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| Orlando nightclub shooting: Around 20 dead after 'terror attack' at Florida gay club Pulse | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 20 people have been killed and 42 injured after a gunman launched what police say was a "domestic terrorism incident" at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. | |
| Police say an officer working as a security guard inside the Pulse club exchanged fire with the suspect at about 2am (7am UK time), before a hostage situation developed, a team of officers entered the club and shot dead the gunman. | |
| It was unclear when the victims were shot by the gunman. | |
| Orlando Police Chief John Mina told a press conference: "At... 0500 hours this morning, the decision was made to rescue hostages that were in there. Our officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect. The suspect is dead," | |
| At least one officer was injured in the gun fight but the police action saved at least 30 lives, Mr Mina said. | |
| Witnesses in the club posted messages on social media as the stand-off took place, while one reportedly texted his mother to say: "He's rounded us up and he is going to kill us." | |
| Police say the suspect was carrying an assault-type rifle and a handgun as well as an unidentified "device" on him. | |
| Police did not immediately name the gunman or provide a possible motive for the attack but officials have classified the rampage as a "domestic terrorism incident", Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said. | |
| Javer Antonetti, 53, told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper he was near the back of the dance club when he heard gunfire. "There were so many (shots), at least 40," he said. | |
| "I saw two guys and it was constant, like 'pow, pow, pow,'." | |
| Police said they had carried out a "controlled explosion" at the club hours after the shooting broke out, but did not explain why that was done. | |
| More follows... | More follows... |
| Addititional reporting by agencies |