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| Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – latest updates | Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – latest updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.48am BST | |
| 00:48 | |
| Ed Aarons | |
| One of the survivors of the massacre, held for three hours as a hostage in a bathroom, has described the horror of the ordeal to a packed congregation at the Joy Metropolitan Community Church. My colleague Ed Pilkington reports from Orlando. | |
| The survivor, named only “Orlando” and closely shielded from the media by officials of the church, gave an emotional speech from a front pew in the church. He looked shattered, walking with difficulty and still carrying Band-Aids on either arm from his hospital care earlier in the day. | |
| Orlando apologized to the congregation for finding it hard to talk. “I am so shaken,” he said. | |
| He described going to the club and the sense of exuberance of that evening. “I wanted everyone to have a great time. We were all there, everyone, to have a good time, to respect each other in joy.” | |
| He heard a noise and thought it was just the thud, thudding of the dance music. “Then I realized, it was shooting.” | |
| His voice breaking, he went on to describe in sparse terms the three hours he was locked up in the bathroom of the club. “I don’t know what to say. I am shaken and sad, to have been there,” he said. | |
| Before the survivor spoke, several pastors within the historic MCC network of LGBT churches that was founded in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall riots spoke about the need to overcome hatred with love and solidarity. | |
| Reverend Catherine Dearlove told the congregation that she had relocated from the UK to Florida last October, marrying her wife under America’s marriage equality laws the following month. | |
| “When I came over from England I felt safe, there was no reason not to feel safe. After we married we walked down the street holding hands. And then last night happened and everything changes. It makes you think about the safety that you have,” she told the congregation, many of whom were dressed in the rainbow colors of the MCC church. | |
| Pastor Kelvin Cobaris, an African American religious leader, described how this afternoon he comforted families of those club goers who were still unaccounted for. Many of the 100 or so family members he counseled, he said, left this evening still not knowing what had happened to their loved ones. | |
| “Others received the news that they did not want to hear. When they were told that their loved one was gone, some screamed out. Others were angry, they wanted answers. All we could do was try to offer comfort, and our prayers,” he said. | |
| 12.31am BST | |
| 00:31 | |
| Orlando Police Chief John Mina has sent an email to his entire police department, whose social media account has just published it online. | |
| “On the darkest day of my 25 years at the Orlando Police Department, I wanted to take a moment to tell all of you how proud I am of the work you have done today and will do over the next days and weeks,” Mina told the department. | |
| We have trained again and again for this type of situation. It’s unfortunate that we had to put those skills to use today. But because of that training and your professionalism, we saved dozens of lives this morning. Even before the first patrol units arrived on the scene, an OPD officer working extra duty at the club engaged the gunman as he opened fire. Our first responders and SWAT team faced a hail of gunfire as they rescued the hostages, and we are blessed beyond words that none of them were gravely injured or killed. | |
| We’ve recieved an enormous amount of tactical law enforcement support from local, state and federal agencies. The outpouring we have received from our central Florida community and law enforcement across the nation and the world has overwhelmed me with gratitude. | |
| I know that you have all been affected today by the tragic actions fo a lone terrorist who cut short teh lives of so many. Our community, our city and our department will be grieving in the days, weeks and months to come. | |
| But on a day like today – and every day – I couldn’t be more prou to be your chief. | |
| Please hug your families tonight. And be safe out there. | |
| 12.17am BST | |
| 00:17 | |
| Several news agencies have begun investigating in depth the life of the gunman, Omar Mateen. | |
| Reuters reports that the 29 year old “appeared to live a quiet life in Fort Pierce, on Florida’s south-east coast, 120 miles from the nightclub.” | |
| The imam of the Florida mosque that Mateen attended for nearly 10 years described him as a soft-spoken man who would visit regularly but rarely interact with the congregation “He hardly had any friends,” Syed Shafeeq Rahman, who heads the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, told Reuters. “He would come with his little son at night to pray and after he would leave.” | |
| Rahman said Mateen never approached him regarding any concerns about homosexuals. Rahman said he himself had been increasingly speaking out against violence, noting that even inflicting a scratch on someone was against the tenets of Islam. | |
| Imam where Mateen prayed said he was "isolated...would finish his prayer and leave." Expressed grief for victims. pic.twitter.com/sLgr0sVgL7 | |
| A high school classmate told Reuters that Mateen was a “a typical teenager who played football”. Samuel King said he often spoke with Mateen after he graduated high school. King, who is openly gay, said the Mateen he knew until 2009 did not appear to be anti-gay. | |
| “What is shocking to me is that the majority of the staff at Ruby Tuesday’s when I worked there were gay. He clearly was not anti-, at least not back then. He did not show any hatred to any of us. He treated us all like the individuals we were. He always smiled and said hello.” | |
| Meanwhile David Ovalle of the Miami Herald spoke with a co-worker of Mateen’s at the security company G4S. Daniel Gilroy told Ovalle that Mateen frequently used slurs: “He would never have more than three or four sentences without” using slurs for black or gay people. “It was always about violence.” | |
| Gilroy also said Mateen “did not respect women”: “All he wanted to do was cheat on his wife.” | |
| Florida Today also quotes Gilroy’s description of Mateen’s “toxic” intolerance. | |
| Former coworker of Orlando mass-murderer said he's NOT surprised by killing https://t.co/sdLIEqwJm9 pic.twitter.com/KJPIUhCJRS | |
| 11.55pm BST | 11.55pm BST |
| 23:55 | 23:55 |
| Inside the vigil at the Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, a gay chorus performs for mourners. | Inside the vigil at the Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, a gay chorus performs for mourners. |
| Gay chorus performs at JoyMCC Church @OGCsing #pulse pic.twitter.com/HaCsW4i7oB | Gay chorus performs at JoyMCC Church @OGCsing #pulse pic.twitter.com/HaCsW4i7oB |
| And "You'll Never Walk Alone." pic.twitter.com/praWlwuYew | And "You'll Never Walk Alone." pic.twitter.com/praWlwuYew |
| And in New York people are holding a vigil at the historic Stonewall Inn. | And in New York people are holding a vigil at the historic Stonewall Inn. |
| At the Stonewall Inn vigil for the victims of the #OrlandoShooting. Around 200 people have gathered. pic.twitter.com/SXkAOaSTmg | At the Stonewall Inn vigil for the victims of the #OrlandoShooting. Around 200 people have gathered. pic.twitter.com/SXkAOaSTmg |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.02am BST | at 12.02am BST |
| 11.49pm BST | 11.49pm BST |
| 23:49 | 23:49 |
| Vice-president Joe Biden has released an emotional statement on the shooting, calling its victims “our brothers and our sisters, our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.” | Vice-president Joe Biden has released an emotional statement on the shooting, calling its victims “our brothers and our sisters, our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.” |
| “In the coming days, we will learn more about these fifty souls and the lives they lived and the world they made better.” | “In the coming days, we will learn more about these fifty souls and the lives they lived and the world they made better.” |
| As the President made clear, we are closely monitoring and fully involved in the investigation of the country’s worst mass shooting. We are grateful for the heroic actions of the Orlando Police, first responders—and many bystanders—who charged into danger and saved lives; who rushed the wounded to hospitals in ambulances, in police cars, in the backs of pickup trucks, and carried others to safety. As in the midst of so much evil, their acts are a reminder of the best in our common humanity. | As the President made clear, we are closely monitoring and fully involved in the investigation of the country’s worst mass shooting. We are grateful for the heroic actions of the Orlando Police, first responders—and many bystanders—who charged into danger and saved lives; who rushed the wounded to hospitals in ambulances, in police cars, in the backs of pickup trucks, and carried others to safety. As in the midst of so much evil, their acts are a reminder of the best in our common humanity. |
| Jill and I offer our prayers and deepest condolences for all those affected by today’s horrific events. But our prayers are not enough to end these kinds of senseless mass shootings. The violence is not normal, and the targeting of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans is evil and abhorrent. | Jill and I offer our prayers and deepest condolences for all those affected by today’s horrific events. But our prayers are not enough to end these kinds of senseless mass shootings. The violence is not normal, and the targeting of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans is evil and abhorrent. |
| Our law enforcement and intelligence professionals are still gathering the facts, and we do not yet know what, if any, connection or inspiration there may be with terrorist organizations. But we do know this—we will never rest in our relentless campaign to bring to justice all who would do America harm. And even as we grieve and pursue justice, no act of terror—no despicable act of hate—can tear us asunder. Times of unspeakable tragedy and evil like this are the moments to remind the killers, and the world, of what is best in us, and what unites us. | Our law enforcement and intelligence professionals are still gathering the facts, and we do not yet know what, if any, connection or inspiration there may be with terrorist organizations. But we do know this—we will never rest in our relentless campaign to bring to justice all who would do America harm. And even as we grieve and pursue justice, no act of terror—no despicable act of hate—can tear us asunder. Times of unspeakable tragedy and evil like this are the moments to remind the killers, and the world, of what is best in us, and what unites us. |
| May God give strength to the families, friends, and all those who grieve today, with broken hearts, but unbound resolve. And may God continue to watch over our great nation. | May God give strength to the families, friends, and all those who grieve today, with broken hearts, but unbound resolve. And may God continue to watch over our great nation. |
| 11.38pm BST | 11.38pm BST |
| 23:38 | 23:38 |
| Local reporter Kimberly Elten reports that authorities have delayed the next family briefing until 10am ET tomorrow. | Local reporter Kimberly Elten reports that authorities have delayed the next family briefing until 10am ET tomorrow. |
| A FBI press conference to provide an update on the investigation is expected sometime in the next hour, from near the home of gunman Omar Mateen. | A FBI press conference to provide an update on the investigation is expected sometime in the next hour, from near the home of gunman Omar Mateen. |
| Next update for families will come at 10am tomorrow. People tell us they don't know how they'll make it through the night without answers. | Next update for families will come at 10am tomorrow. People tell us they don't know how they'll make it through the night without answers. |
| 11.23pm BST | 11.23pm BST |
| 23:23 | 23:23 |
| Inside the Hampton Inn, relatives and survivors packed the lobby, hoping for any news. In mid-afternoon authorties began posting lists of known victims, those wounded at the Orlando Regional Medical Centre and at others hospitals, and an ever-growing list of names of those missing. My colleague Richard Luscombe reports from the makeshift emergency center. | Inside the Hampton Inn, relatives and survivors packed the lobby, hoping for any news. In mid-afternoon authorties began posting lists of known victims, those wounded at the Orlando Regional Medical Centre and at others hospitals, and an ever-growing list of names of those missing. My colleague Richard Luscombe reports from the makeshift emergency center. |
| Family members, some wrapped in blankets and many of them in tears, were guided into the building where some of the survivors of the attack were taken earlier in the day and where volunteers awaited with cold water and food. There were also chaplains and psychotherapists on hand. | Family members, some wrapped in blankets and many of them in tears, were guided into the building where some of the survivors of the attack were taken earlier in the day and where volunteers awaited with cold water and food. There were also chaplains and psychotherapists on hand. |
| “When you get sent from the hospital to a hotel it has you fearing the worst,” said Barron Cerrano, whose 37-year-old brother Juan Rivera is among the clubgoers missing. | “When you get sent from the hospital to a hotel it has you fearing the worst,” said Barron Cerrano, whose 37-year-old brother Juan Rivera is among the clubgoers missing. |
| “Nobody knows anything for sure and there’s so much wrong information circulating on social media. | “Nobody knows anything for sure and there’s so much wrong information circulating on social media. |
| “I’ve not lost faith or hope. We believe in God and we will keep praying and asking for prayers.” | “I’ve not lost faith or hope. We believe in God and we will keep praying and asking for prayers.” |
| Rivera, he said, is a respected and well-known hair stylist in Orlando who regularly works with the local Telemundo news affiliate TV station. He was at Pulse celebrating a friend’s birthday and goes to the club’s Latin nights “once or twice a month” Cerrano said. | Rivera, he said, is a respected and well-known hair stylist in Orlando who regularly works with the local Telemundo news affiliate TV station. He was at Pulse celebrating a friend’s birthday and goes to the club’s Latin nights “once or twice a month” Cerrano said. |
| “I would usually go myself but for some reason last night I chose not to,” he said. “It’s a popular place with a lot of latino people.” | “I would usually go myself but for some reason last night I chose not to,” he said. “It’s a popular place with a lot of latino people.” |
| Tamara Colon left Pulse about 10 minutes before the shooting took place and learned the full horror of what had happened when friends who were trapped inside started to send her text messages. | Tamara Colon left Pulse about 10 minutes before the shooting took place and learned the full horror of what had happened when friends who were trapped inside started to send her text messages. |
| She said she knew “three or four” friends who were likely killed and there were another 15 or so more unaccounted for. | She said she knew “three or four” friends who were likely killed and there were another 15 or so more unaccounted for. |
| “The club was so busy, maybe 300 or more people, and everyone was dancing and having a good time and being nice to each other,” she said. | “The club was so busy, maybe 300 or more people, and everyone was dancing and having a good time and being nice to each other,” she said. |
| “On any other night I’d still have been there at 2.30am but this night we left early. Friends who were in there said how horrific it was. It breaks my heart.” | “On any other night I’d still have been there at 2.30am but this night we left early. Friends who were in there said how horrific it was. It breaks my heart.” |
| Colon’s friend, Andrew Aleman, 23, who left the club early with her, broke down in tears as he recounted friends’ stories of the scene inside, including blood over the floors and bodies seemingly everywhere. | Colon’s friend, Andrew Aleman, 23, who left the club early with her, broke down in tears as he recounted friends’ stories of the scene inside, including blood over the floors and bodies seemingly everywhere. |
| “I have friends who have passed, friends in hospital and friends who are missing,” he said. | “I have friends who have passed, friends in hospital and friends who are missing,” he said. |
| “My feelings right now are numb. I’m keeping calm and trying to keep the pain out but when I let go I know it’s going to be very hard for me, it’s going to be bad. I’m still trying to process it.” | “My feelings right now are numb. I’m keeping calm and trying to keep the pain out but when I let go I know it’s going to be very hard for me, it’s going to be bad. I’m still trying to process it.” |
| Katherine Rosales suspected her cousin Jose Martinez, 24, had become a victim when the Mexican restaurant he works at in Altamonte called to say he had not turned up for work on Sunday morning. | Katherine Rosales suspected her cousin Jose Martinez, 24, had become a victim when the Mexican restaurant he works at in Altamonte called to say he had not turned up for work on Sunday morning. |
| “He’s a hard worker, six days a week, he enjoys his job and wouldn’t just not turn up to work,” Rosales said.”He’s never missed a day. | “He’s a hard worker, six days a week, he enjoys his job and wouldn’t just not turn up to work,” Rosales said.”He’s never missed a day. |
| “He’d let somebody know what had happened to him if he was able. If he’s lying critically ill in hospital and nobody knows who he is, that’s still better than the alternative.” | “He’d let somebody know what had happened to him if he was able. If he’s lying critically ill in hospital and nobody knows who he is, that’s still better than the alternative.” |
| Rosales said her cousin enjoys dancing every weekend and thought nothing of driving miles to downtown Orlando to go to Pulse. “It’s his life,” she added. | Rosales said her cousin enjoys dancing every weekend and thought nothing of driving miles to downtown Orlando to go to Pulse. “It’s his life,” she added. |
| Miguel Honorato, has a wife and three children aged 15, two and one desperate for news of him, according to his brother Jose, who spent most of the day shuttling between the hotel and medical centre in a vain search for news. | Miguel Honorato, has a wife and three children aged 15, two and one desperate for news of him, according to his brother Jose, who spent most of the day shuttling between the hotel and medical centre in a vain search for news. |
| “He went to the club with friends and we have heard nothing from Miguel or from them,” he said. | “He went to the club with friends and we have heard nothing from Miguel or from them,” he said. |
| A fleet of four buses turned up at the Hampton Inn at about 4pm, set to transport the families to a city-run senior centre where there was more room to accommodate them. But at 6pm they were still inside the hotel. Loud wailing could be heard from inside. | A fleet of four buses turned up at the Hampton Inn at about 4pm, set to transport the families to a city-run senior centre where there was more room to accommodate them. But at 6pm they were still inside the hotel. Loud wailing could be heard from inside. |
| Orlando residents Maria Matijas and Carlos Perez show their support #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/3U5j4cGdFm | Orlando residents Maria Matijas and Carlos Perez show their support #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/3U5j4cGdFm |
| 11.13pm BST | 11.13pm BST |
| 23:13 | 23:13 |
| The city of Orlando has asked residents not to hold vigils – authorities are concerned about sufficient security measures around the city. | The city of Orlando has asked residents not to hold vigils – authorities are concerned about sufficient security measures around the city. |
| Vigils, authorities wrote, “represent a serious strain on our limited resources, which we need to dedicate to law enforcement and victims”. | Vigils, authorities wrote, “represent a serious strain on our limited resources, which we need to dedicate to law enforcement and victims”. |
| We understand our community is grieving and vigils are being planned, but PLEASE hold off on vigils. #PrayforOrlando pic.twitter.com/9ZmbbLD4Tz | We understand our community is grieving and vigils are being planned, but PLEASE hold off on vigils. #PrayforOrlando pic.twitter.com/9ZmbbLD4Tz |
| Distraught relatives of shooting victims/survivors arriving at emergency reception center in downtown Orlando pic.twitter.com/E5ZV2z4OOm | Distraught relatives of shooting victims/survivors arriving at emergency reception center in downtown Orlando pic.twitter.com/E5ZV2z4OOm |
| 11.10pm BST | 11.10pm BST |
| 23:10 | 23:10 |
| In Orlando, there are two extraordinary scenes of sadness: quiet, communal mourning at a vigil at the Joy Metropolitan Community Church and desperate grief at the Hampton Inn, where authorities are telling families whether their loved ones are alive or dead. | In Orlando, there are two extraordinary scenes of sadness: quiet, communal mourning at a vigil at the Joy Metropolitan Community Church and desperate grief at the Hampton Inn, where authorities are telling families whether their loved ones are alive or dead. |
| Standing room only at a vigil at Joy MCC in Orlando. Overflow crowds listening to speakers outside the doors. pic.twitter.com/bhp3yEPPDg | Standing room only at a vigil at Joy MCC in Orlando. Overflow crowds listening to speakers outside the doors. pic.twitter.com/bhp3yEPPDg |
| Family members just found it what happened to their relative in #Orlando #pulse. Horrible screams and yells. Not a dry eye @OrlandoWeekly | Family members just found it what happened to their relative in #Orlando #pulse. Horrible screams and yells. Not a dry eye @OrlandoWeekly |
| 11.08pm BST | 11.08pm BST |
| 23:08 | 23:08 |
| In the separate incident in Los Angeles, where a man was arrested with assault rifles and a reported intention to do harm to the city’s Gay Pride Parade, police have published details of the arrest. | In the separate incident in Los Angeles, where a man was arrested with assault rifles and a reported intention to do harm to the city’s Gay Pride Parade, police have published details of the arrest. |
| The man, James Wesley Howell, was arrested in Santa Monica after a neighbor tipped off police. They found he had three assult rifles, high capacity magazines and ammunition. | The man, James Wesley Howell, was arrested in Santa Monica after a neighbor tipped off police. They found he had three assult rifles, high capacity magazines and ammunition. |
| “Additionally, officers discovered a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device,” the Santa Monica police said. | “Additionally, officers discovered a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device,” the Santa Monica police said. |
| #BREAKING: Suspect in #SantaMonica identified. Police find a "five gallon bucket of explosive material" @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/9SVOVFHCOt | #BREAKING: Suspect in #SantaMonica identified. Police find a "five gallon bucket of explosive material" @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/9SVOVFHCOt |