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Orlando nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – latest updates Orlando shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – latest updates
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Martin Farrer has some details on the rifle used by Mateen in the shooting:
Law enforcement officials said Mateen used a semi-automatic AR-15 style assault rifle and pistol to kill to carry out his attack.
An AR-15, which is an updated version of the M-16 military rifle, is similar to the weapons used in a string of previous mass shootings in the US.
Adam Lanza used a Buckmaster Xm15 assault rifle to kill 28 school children and adults in the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 while Tashfeen Malik and Syed Farook used two assault rifles and two pistols to kill 14 people in San Bernardino, California, in December 2015.
James Holmes also used this kind of weapon in his rampage at a cinema in Denver in 2012.
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Reports say Donald Trump has postponed a rally he was due to hold tomorrow in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He will, however, press ahead with a speech he was due to give at St Anslem’s College. His campaign released a statement saying the speech, in which he was expected to focus on Hillary Clinton, would instead address “the threats facing all Americans”. Trump postpones rally in New Hampshire
Reports say Donald Trump has postponed a rally he was due to hold tomorrow in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He will, however, press ahead with a speech he was scheduled to deliver at St Anslem’s College. His campaign released a statement saying the speech, in which he was expected to focus on Hillary Clinton, would instead address “the threats facing all Americans”.
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'Hate will never win''Hate will never win'
Talkshow host James Corden has paid tribute to the victims of the shooting at the opening of the Tony Awards in New York. Many attendees of the awards arrived wearing silver ribbons in honour of the dead.Talkshow host James Corden has paid tribute to the victims of the shooting at the opening of the Tony Awards in New York. Many attendees of the awards arrived wearing silver ribbons in honour of the dead.
In his opening address, Corden addressed those targeted by the massacre:In his opening address, Corden addressed those targeted by the massacre:
On behalf of the whole theater community and every person in this room, our hearts go out to all of those affected by this atrocity. All we can say is, you are not on your own right now. Your tragedy is our tragedy. Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality, and gender is equal, is embraced, and is loved. Hate will never win.On behalf of the whole theater community and every person in this room, our hearts go out to all of those affected by this atrocity. All we can say is, you are not on your own right now. Your tragedy is our tragedy. Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality, and gender is equal, is embraced, and is loved. Hate will never win.
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Rubio: gun control 'would not have prevented attack'Rubio: gun control 'would not have prevented attack'
Florida senator and former Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has told the BBC that there should be less focus on the weapons used in the attack on the Pulse nightclub, and more attention paid to the motivations behind it.Florida senator and former Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has told the BBC that there should be less focus on the weapons used in the attack on the Pulse nightclub, and more attention paid to the motivations behind it.
Rubio said placing controls on firearms “wouldn’t have prevented this attack.”Rubio said placing controls on firearms “wouldn’t have prevented this attack.”
“These terrorists are committed people.”“These terrorists are committed people.”
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Martin Farrer has been pulling together some background on Mateen’s father.Martin Farrer has been pulling together some background on Mateen’s father.
Seddique Mir Mateen, the father of the alleged shooter, is reportedly a life insurance salesman with a high-profile social media presence in which he campaigns about Afghan politics.Seddique Mir Mateen, the father of the alleged shooter, is reportedly a life insurance salesman with a high-profile social media presence in which he campaigns about Afghan politics.
Mateen Sr, who lives in Florida, made occasional appearances on a satellite television channel called Payam-e-Afghan to host a show discussing Afghan politics. In one appearance he proclaimed himself as a ‘candidate to be the next president of Afghanistan’.Mateen Sr, who lives in Florida, made occasional appearances on a satellite television channel called Payam-e-Afghan to host a show discussing Afghan politics. In one appearance he proclaimed himself as a ‘candidate to be the next president of Afghanistan’.
Omar Khatab, the owner of the channel, said Seddique Mateen occasionally bought time on his channel to broadcast a show called Durand Jirga.Omar Khatab, the owner of the channel, said Seddique Mateen occasionally bought time on his channel to broadcast a show called Durand Jirga.
“Three or four times a year, he would show up in southern California,” Khatab told Associated Press in a phone interview on Sunday.“Three or four times a year, he would show up in southern California,” Khatab told Associated Press in a phone interview on Sunday.
“He’d talk for about two to three hours. He’d buy his own time and come here and broadcast and leave within a day.” Some of Seddique Mateen’s shows were taped and later posted on YouTube.“He’d talk for about two to three hours. He’d buy his own time and come here and broadcast and leave within a day.” Some of Seddique Mateen’s shows were taped and later posted on YouTube.
During one episode, a sign in the background read: “Long live the USA! Long live Afghanistan. ... Afghans are the best friends to the USA.”During one episode, a sign in the background read: “Long live the USA! Long live Afghanistan. ... Afghans are the best friends to the USA.”
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Reuters are live-streaming a vigil being held outside the White House.Reuters are live-streaming a vigil being held outside the White House.
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As usual, the New York Daily News doesn’t pull any punches with its front page.As usual, the New York Daily News doesn’t pull any punches with its front page.
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'It is way too easy to kill people in America''It is way too easy to kill people in America'
Alan Grayson, the Democratic representative for Florida’s 9th congressional district, has had some strong words to say about gun control in the wake of the shooting. Speaking to CNN he said:Alan Grayson, the Democratic representative for Florida’s 9th congressional district, has had some strong words to say about gun control in the wake of the shooting. Speaking to CNN he said:
If he was who he was and he was not able to buy a weapon that shoots over 700 rounds in a minute, all of these people would still be alive. If somebody like him had nothing worse than a Glock pistol he might have killed three or four people and not 50. It is way too easy to kill people in America today.If he was who he was and he was not able to buy a weapon that shoots over 700 rounds in a minute, all of these people would still be alive. If somebody like him had nothing worse than a Glock pistol he might have killed three or four people and not 50. It is way too easy to kill people in America today.
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Hello, Bonnie Malkin here, now taking over the blog from Alan Yuhas for the next few hours of what has been a terrible day in America. We are gathering more information on Omar Mateen and his victims and will feed in ongoing political reaction to the massacre.Hello, Bonnie Malkin here, now taking over the blog from Alan Yuhas for the next few hours of what has been a terrible day in America. We are gathering more information on Omar Mateen and his victims and will feed in ongoing political reaction to the massacre.
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What we knowWhat we know
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Gunman's ex-wife: 'he was disturbed'Gunman's ex-wife: 'he was disturbed'
Sitora Yusufiy, the ex-wife of the gunman is holding a press conference with her fiance in Boulder, Colorado.Sitora Yusufiy, the ex-wife of the gunman is holding a press conference with her fiance in Boulder, Colorado.
“My family literally rescued me, the night that they were there they had to pull me out of his arms,” she says of Omar Mateen. “I had cut him off, I ave blocked everything.” “My family literally rescued me, the night that they were there they had to pull me out of his arms,” she says of Omar Mateen. “I had cut him off, I blocked everything.”
She says that her family warned him to stay away or they would go to the authorities, and they made a police report after she left. It’s been seven to eight years since she last contacted him. She was married to Mateen for about four months, she adds, but left because of his emotional disturbances and physical abuse.She says that her family warned him to stay away or they would go to the authorities, and they made a police report after she left. It’s been seven to eight years since she last contacted him. She was married to Mateen for about four months, she adds, but left because of his emotional disturbances and physical abuse.
She’s asked about religion. “He did follow religion, he did practice. You know, he had his faith,” she says. “I don’t follow any one particular religion.”She’s asked about religion. “He did follow religion, he did practice. You know, he had his faith,” she says. “I don’t follow any one particular religion.”
Ex-wife of Orlando shooter describes him as violently and unstable; describes beatings #PulseNighClubShooting pic.twitter.com/ADKQqNS2N0Ex-wife of Orlando shooter describes him as violently and unstable; describes beatings #PulseNighClubShooting pic.twitter.com/ADKQqNS2N0
She says he went to shooting ranges and owned a gun, and worked as a correction officer at a juvenile delinquent center. “He wanted to be a police officer.”She says he went to shooting ranges and owned a gun, and worked as a correction officer at a juvenile delinquent center. “He wanted to be a police officer.”
“In the beginning he was a normal being that cared about family,” she says. “A few months after we were married I saw his instabiltiy, I saw that he was bipolar and would get mad out of nowhere. That’s when I started worrying about my safety.” “In the beginning he was a normal being that cared about family,” she says. “A few months after we were married I saw his instability, I saw that he was bipolar and would get mad out of nowhere. That’s when I started worrying about my safety.”
She says Mateen would “not allow me to speak to my family, keeping me hostage from them”.She says Mateen would “not allow me to speak to my family, keeping me hostage from them”.
Her family became concerned she adds, and like her saw “emotional instability, sickness, mentally, he was mentally unstable and mentally ill”.Her family became concerned she adds, and like her saw “emotional instability, sickness, mentally, he was mentally unstable and mentally ill”.
Her fiance insists Mateen’s attack was not about religion but about mental illness, and says no one expected this kind of violence from him. They “thought he was a man that was very confused and very troubled”, he says.Her fiance insists Mateen’s attack was not about religion but about mental illness, and says no one expected this kind of violence from him. They “thought he was a man that was very confused and very troubled”, he says.
“He was obviously disturbed,” his fiancee adds. “He would get in his tempers he would express hate toward things, toward everything.”“He was obviously disturbed,” his fiancee adds. “He would get in his tempers he would express hate toward things, toward everything.”
Finally she says that the attack represents everything she abhors and wants to work against. “To be some way affiliated in some part of my life with somebody who caused such a tragedy, its shook me off the ground,” she says.Finally she says that the attack represents everything she abhors and wants to work against. “To be some way affiliated in some part of my life with somebody who caused such a tragedy, its shook me off the ground,” she says.
She offers her sympathy and condolences for the victims and their loved. “That’s my biggest concern, and I pray for their healing and I pray for their peace, to find their peace.”She offers her sympathy and condolences for the victims and their loved. “That’s my biggest concern, and I pray for their healing and I pray for their peace, to find their peace.”
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