BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - "Dark Knight" star Christian Bale is asking for privacy in allegations he assaulted his mother and sister in a London hotel.

In his first comments since the allegations were made public, the Welsh-born actor says the incident is a "deeply personal matter."

Bale spent four hours talking to British police on Tuesday following allegation he assaulted his mother and one of his three sisters in his suite at London's Dorchester Hotel two days earlier.

Bale spoke Thursday at a press conference in this northern Spanish city during a tour to promote the new Batman movie.

-Christian Bale Pictures

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.