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Florida Pulse gay club attacked in Orlando - mass casualties | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A shooting inside a gay nightclub in the Florida city of Orlando has caused mass casualties, police say. | |
Orlando Police also said in a tweet that the shooter inside the Pulse Club, located in the heart of the city, is now dead. | |
A bomb squad and hazardous material team are at the scene, and a controlled explosion was earlier carried out. | |
Relatives have been gathering at local hospitals desperate for news of their loved ones. | |
Live updates | Live updates |
One woman said she had received a text message and phone call from her daughter inside the club, who said she had been shot in the arm. | |
Another witness told local TV reporter Stewart Moore that his friend was still locked inside the building with a gunshot wound. | |
Witnesses said they heard at least 20 gunshots as the incident unfolded. | |
Mr Moore, in an earlier tweet, said a source told him that the attacker was suspected to have a bomb. | Mr Moore, in an earlier tweet, said a source told him that the attacker was suspected to have a bomb. |
Video footage being shared on social media showed dozens of emergency vehicles at the scene and people being treated on the pavements. | Video footage being shared on social media showed dozens of emergency vehicles at the scene and people being treated on the pavements. |
More than 100 people were reported to have been enjoying a Latin-themed night in the club, which calls itself the hottest gay bar in the city. | |
Ricardo Negron Almodovar told BBC News that the shooter opened fire at around 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT), as the club night was coming to a close. | Ricardo Negron Almodovar told BBC News that the shooter opened fire at around 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT), as the club night was coming to a close. |
"We heard rapid fire go off. In the room I was in, people went down to the floor. I wasn't able to see the shooter or people get hurt. | "We heard rapid fire go off. In the room I was in, people went down to the floor. I wasn't able to see the shooter or people get hurt. |
"At some point, there was a brief pause, and a group of us got up and went to the exit that leads to the patio area outside. We found an exit and after that... I just ran." | "At some point, there was a brief pause, and a group of us got up and went to the exit that leads to the patio area outside. We found an exit and after that... I just ran." |
Another man, Anthony Torres, said he heard people screaming that others in the nightclub were dead. | Another man, Anthony Torres, said he heard people screaming that others in the nightclub were dead. |
The incident comes as Orlando is still reeling from the fatal shooting on Friday night of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie following a concert in the city. | The incident comes as Orlando is still reeling from the fatal shooting on Friday night of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie following a concert in the city. |
She had been signing autographs when she was shot by 26-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who then killed himself. It is not clear what Loibl's motive was. | She had been signing autographs when she was shot by 26-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who then killed himself. It is not clear what Loibl's motive was. |
Were you at the Orlando Pulse nightclub? Or nearby when the incident happened? | Were you at the Orlando Pulse nightclub? Or nearby when the incident happened? |
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