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| Orlando shooting: 'It's way too easy to kill people,' says Congressman, as 50 die in attack | Orlando shooting: 'It's way too easy to kill people,' says Congressman, as 50 die in attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.04am BST | |
| 06:04 | |
| Names of ten victims released | |
| The City of Orlando has confirmed the names of two more victims, bringing the total number of people identified to have died in the massacre to 10. | |
| They are: Edward Sotomayor Jr, Stanley Almodovar III, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, Luis S. Vielma, Kimberly Morris, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, Darryl Roman Burt II. | |
| 5.59am BST | |
| 05:59 | |
| Stories of survival | |
| Richard Luscombe in Orlando has pulled together stories of those who managed to escape the carnage at Pulse nightclub. | |
| Related: Orlando survivors: 'people were screaming and falling, the shots wouldn't stop' | |
| You’re sitting there having a great time at a club and you hear what sounds like fireworks and balloons popping, and you assume it’s part of the show,” one clubgoer who escaped the carnage told reporters. “And then you hear people start screaming, the sound doesn’t stop and people start falling, you realise it’s not a show any more. People were screaming and falling and the shots wouldn’t stop. You realise it’s not the celebration you thought it was.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.03am BST | |
| 5.36am BST | |
| 05:36 | |
| British papers are also carrying news of the shooting on their front pages. | |
| The Guardian front page, Monday 13 June 2016: Massacre in Orlando pic.twitter.com/0V0bnRHglR | |
| Tomorrow's front page: He swore allegiance to Isis then shot 50 dead #Tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/1lCeCVOdd3 | |
| Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the daily edition: https://t.co/XF8VnDpHYF pic.twitter.com/AXwjuuL1Sd | |
| Tomorrow's Daily Telegraph front page: Isil wages war on gays in West pic.twitter.com/Gt8UWd3o8G | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.37am BST | |
| 5.22am BST | 5.22am BST |
| 05:22 | 05:22 |
| The world reacts with horror at events in Flordia | |
| World leaders have spoken out in solidarity with the victims of the Orlando attack. | World leaders have spoken out in solidarity with the victims of the Orlando attack. |
| Queen Elizabeth II sent her condolences via Twitter. | Queen Elizabeth II sent her condolences via Twitter. |
| The Queen: "Prince Philip & I have been shocked by the events in Orlando. Our thoughts & prayers are with all those who have been affected" | The Queen: "Prince Philip & I have been shocked by the events in Orlando. Our thoughts & prayers are with all those who have been affected" |
| Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called the massacre a “terrorist, violent, hate-filled attack” and said that Australians conveyed their “deepest sympathies” to the relatives of those affected. | Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called the massacre a “terrorist, violent, hate-filled attack” and said that Australians conveyed their “deepest sympathies” to the relatives of those affected. |
| Updated | |
| at 5.39am BST | |
| 5.13am BST | 5.13am BST |
| 05:13 | 05:13 |
| Julia Carrie Wong is attending a vigil in San Francisco. | Julia Carrie Wong is attending a vigil in San Francisco. |
| She writes: | She writes: |
| Thousands of people gathered in one of the spiritual centers of thenation’s LGBT community - the Castro district in San Francisco - wherethey hugged, mourned, prayed, and sang below the iconic rainbow flagflying at half mast.“As a gay Latino man, I feel devastated by the loss,” said DavidCampos, a member of the city’s board of supervisors. “It’s hard tofind the words. That’s why we’re here.”The mood in the plaza was by turns somber and defiant as members ofthe city’s large LGBT community invoked the history of the strugglefor gay rights, promised to fight bigotry and homophobia, and spokeout against Islamophobia.“If the government tries to make this about Islam, I will go to mydeath fighting that,” said Sister Mary Timothy Simplicity, a member ofthe Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an order of drag-wearing nuns whocampaign for LGBT rights.“If our beautiful millennials learn anything from this I hope it’sthat we have a voice and need to use it,” he added. “I’m from the oldschool. Fucking queers fight back.” | Thousands of people gathered in one of the spiritual centers of thenation’s LGBT community - the Castro district in San Francisco - wherethey hugged, mourned, prayed, and sang below the iconic rainbow flagflying at half mast.“As a gay Latino man, I feel devastated by the loss,” said DavidCampos, a member of the city’s board of supervisors. “It’s hard tofind the words. That’s why we’re here.”The mood in the plaza was by turns somber and defiant as members ofthe city’s large LGBT community invoked the history of the strugglefor gay rights, promised to fight bigotry and homophobia, and spokeout against Islamophobia.“If the government tries to make this about Islam, I will go to mydeath fighting that,” said Sister Mary Timothy Simplicity, a member ofthe Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an order of drag-wearing nuns whocampaign for LGBT rights.“If our beautiful millennials learn anything from this I hope it’sthat we have a voice and need to use it,” he added. “I’m from the oldschool. Fucking queers fight back.” |
| 4.57am BST | 4.57am BST |
| 04:57 | 04:57 |
| The Empire State Building has gone dark in honour of the victims. | The Empire State Building has gone dark in honour of the victims. |
| The Empire State Building tonight, in honor of the Orlando shooting victims: pic.twitter.com/VodZwHtBq4 | The Empire State Building tonight, in honor of the Orlando shooting victims: pic.twitter.com/VodZwHtBq4 |
| While the spire of One World Trade Center lit up in rainbow colours. | While the spire of One World Trade Center lit up in rainbow colours. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.59am BST | at 4.59am BST |
| 4.55am BST | 4.55am BST |
| 04:55 | 04:55 |
| Grieving relatives remember lost loved ones | |
| Relatives of the victims of the shooting have started to pay emotional tribute to them. | Relatives of the victims of the shooting have started to pay emotional tribute to them. |
| Rosalie Ramos, the mother of 23-year-old Stanley Almodovar III who was shot three times inside the Pulse nightclub and died in hospital, told the Orlando Sentinel that she had prepared some food for her son for when he came home from the club. But he never did. Ramos said her son was a happy man with a big heart. His aunt described him as “an amazing person with a good soul”. | Rosalie Ramos, the mother of 23-year-old Stanley Almodovar III who was shot three times inside the Pulse nightclub and died in hospital, told the Orlando Sentinel that she had prepared some food for her son for when he came home from the club. But he never did. Ramos said her son was a happy man with a big heart. His aunt described him as “an amazing person with a good soul”. |
| Friends of 36-year-old Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera, who died inside the nightclub, said he was kind and selfless. | Friends of 36-year-old Eric Ivan Ortiz Rivera, who died inside the nightclub, said he was kind and selfless. |
| “Eric was always willing to help everybody. He sacrificed himself a lot for his family,” his former roommate, Abismel Colon Gomez told the Sentinel. “He loved his brother, and he was always being generous.” | “Eric was always willing to help everybody. He sacrificed himself a lot for his family,” his former roommate, Abismel Colon Gomez told the Sentinel. “He loved his brother, and he was always being generous.” |
| “My heart breaks,” Colon Gomez said. “We have seven friends who were there, and already we know three are dead.” | “My heart breaks,” Colon Gomez said. “We have seven friends who were there, and already we know three are dead.” |
| Updated | |
| at 5.38am BST | |
| 4.38am BST | 4.38am BST |
| 04:38 | 04:38 |
| Reuters reports that Omar Mateen’s employers G4S screened him in 2013 and made “no findings”. | Reuters reports that Omar Mateen’s employers G4S screened him in 2013 and made “no findings”. |
| Mateen worked for global security company G4S since 2007, and was employed at a gated retirement community in South Florida, the company said in a statement late on Sunday. | Mateen worked for global security company G4S since 2007, and was employed at a gated retirement community in South Florida, the company said in a statement late on Sunday. |
| He underwent two instances of company screening and background checks - once when he was hired in 2007, and again in 2013. | He underwent two instances of company screening and background checks - once when he was hired in 2007, and again in 2013. |
| “The (2007) check revealed nothing of concern,” the company said in a statement. “His screening was repeated in 2013 with no findings.” | “The (2007) check revealed nothing of concern,” the company said in a statement. “His screening was repeated in 2013 with no findings.” |
| In 2013, the company learned that Mateen had been questioned by the FBI but that the inquiries were then closed. | In 2013, the company learned that Mateen had been questioned by the FBI but that the inquiries were then closed. |
| “We were not made aware of any alleged connections between Mateen and terrorist activities, and were unaware of any further FBI investigations,” the company statement said. | “We were not made aware of any alleged connections between Mateen and terrorist activities, and were unaware of any further FBI investigations,” the company statement said. |
| Mateen was an armed security officer for G4S, and the company was trying to ascertain whether any guns used in the attack were related to Mateen’s work, said a spokesman who declined to be named. | Mateen was an armed security officer for G4S, and the company was trying to ascertain whether any guns used in the attack were related to Mateen’s work, said a spokesman who declined to be named. |
| 4.22am BST | 4.22am BST |
| 04:22 | 04:22 |
| More front pages from the US press are coming out and – unsurprisingly – feature the attack in Orlando prominently. | More front pages from the US press are coming out and – unsurprisingly – feature the attack in Orlando prominently. |
| The front page of The New York Times for Monday, June 13 pic.twitter.com/oqBo2QuXof | The front page of The New York Times for Monday, June 13 pic.twitter.com/oqBo2QuXof |
| Monday's @TB_Times front page with coverage of the Orlando massacre. pic.twitter.com/nKIWY5ewFa | Monday's @TB_Times front page with coverage of the Orlando massacre. pic.twitter.com/nKIWY5ewFa |
| Monday's @MiamiHerald 1A. pic.twitter.com/jvo7CTDLeE | Monday's @MiamiHerald 1A. pic.twitter.com/jvo7CTDLeE |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.24am BST | at 4.24am BST |
| 4.10am BST | 4.10am BST |
| 04:10 | 04:10 |
| Rory Carroll reports from Los Angeles that the intentions and motives of a man found with a cache of weapons allegedly en route to LA’s gay pride parade are unclear. | Rory Carroll reports from Los Angeles that the intentions and motives of a man found with a cache of weapons allegedly en route to LA’s gay pride parade are unclear. |
| Santa Monica’s police chief, Jacqueline Seabrooks, has walked back her initial claim that James Howell told police he intended “to harm” Sunday’s event. | Santa Monica’s police chief, Jacqueline Seabrooks, has walked back her initial claim that James Howell told police he intended “to harm” Sunday’s event. |
| “Inaccuracy confirmed. He said he was going to the event. Other information inaccurate,” she tweeted. | “Inaccuracy confirmed. He said he was going to the event. Other information inaccurate,” she tweeted. |
| Any perception that the 20-year-old was planning a homophobic massacre took another knock when one of Howell’s friends, Joseph Greeson, 18, told the Los Angeles Times that Howell was bisexual and bore no ill will toward gays or lesbians. | Any perception that the 20-year-old was planning a homophobic massacre took another knock when one of Howell’s friends, Joseph Greeson, 18, told the Los Angeles Times that Howell was bisexual and bore no ill will toward gays or lesbians. |
| 4.05am BST | 4.05am BST |
| 04:05 | 04:05 |
| What we know | What we know |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.08am BST | at 5.08am BST |
| 3.52am BST | 3.52am BST |
| 03:52 | 03:52 |
| Michael Safi is reporting on Omar Mateen’s ex-wife Sitora Yusifiy who divorced the shooting suspect after four months of marriage and says he had serious mental health problems. | Michael Safi is reporting on Omar Mateen’s ex-wife Sitora Yusifiy who divorced the shooting suspect after four months of marriage and says he had serious mental health problems. |
| He writes: | He writes: |
| Sitora Yusifiy was married to Mateen for four months in 2009 until her family was forced to “literally rescue me” after he kept her “hostage”, she said on Sunday in Colorado. | Sitora Yusifiy was married to Mateen for four months in 2009 until her family was forced to “literally rescue me” after he kept her “hostage”, she said on Sunday in Colorado. |
| “In the beginning he was a normal being that cared about family, loved to joke, loved to have fun,” Yusifiy said of Mateen, whom she had met online | “In the beginning he was a normal being that cared about family, loved to joke, loved to have fun,” Yusifiy said of Mateen, whom she had met online |
| “A few months after we were married I saw his instability, I saw his bipolar, and he would get mad out of nowhere, and that’s when I started worrying about my safety. | “A few months after we were married I saw his instability, I saw his bipolar, and he would get mad out of nowhere, and that’s when I started worrying about my safety. |
| “Then after a few months he started abusing me physically, very often, and not allowing me to speak to my family, and keeping me hostage from them,” she said. | “Then after a few months he started abusing me physically, very often, and not allowing me to speak to my family, and keeping me hostage from them,” she said. |
| She said her family arrived to rescue her from Mateen “and had to pull me out of his arms”. | She said her family arrived to rescue her from Mateen “and had to pull me out of his arms”. |
| 3.45am BST | 3.45am BST |
| 03:45 | 03:45 |
| Our video team have put together an explainer on the attack: | Our video team have put together an explainer on the attack: |
| 3.33am BST | 3.33am BST |
| 03:33 | 03:33 |
| The City of Orlando has updated the list of confirmed victims. So far, eight names have been released. | The City of Orlando has updated the list of confirmed victims. So far, eight names have been released. |
| 3.28am BST | 3.28am BST |
| 03:28 | 03:28 |
| Vigils are taking place in Orlando and across the country. | Vigils are taking place in Orlando and across the country. |
| A candle burns at Lake Eola vigil honoring those lost in last night's tragedy #pulse #PulseShooting #orlandostrong pic.twitter.com/IwF3SJhSst | A candle burns at Lake Eola vigil honoring those lost in last night's tragedy #pulse #PulseShooting #orlandostrong pic.twitter.com/IwF3SJhSst |
| Zach Stafford attended one in Nashville earlier. He reports: | Zach Stafford attended one in Nashville earlier. He reports: |
| Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil in Nashville as the Music City joined numerous other cities around the US in mourning. | Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil in Nashville as the Music City joined numerous other cities around the US in mourning. |
| “When I woke up this morning and saw the news, I saw yet again the harm a well armed individual can do with a twisted mind,” mayor Megan Barry said to the crowd of over 300 people outside city hall. | “When I woke up this morning and saw the news, I saw yet again the harm a well armed individual can do with a twisted mind,” mayor Megan Barry said to the crowd of over 300 people outside city hall. |
| “It’s a tragedy...and it’s a tragedy that keeps happening,” she continued. | “It’s a tragedy...and it’s a tragedy that keeps happening,” she continued. |
| The city of Nashville was one the few major US cities that quickly organized an official vigil for the local LGBT community to come together only hours after the news of the shooting gripped the nation. | The city of Nashville was one the few major US cities that quickly organized an official vigil for the local LGBT community to come together only hours after the news of the shooting gripped the nation. |
| “We are standing with you this evening with a very heavy heart when another senseless act of bill eve was committed towards our LGBT community,” said a representative from the American Muslim Advisory Council, which the city’s mayor asked to attend to show interfaith unity as speculation over the Orlando shooter’s connection to Isis continues. | “We are standing with you this evening with a very heavy heart when another senseless act of bill eve was committed towards our LGBT community,” said a representative from the American Muslim Advisory Council, which the city’s mayor asked to attend to show interfaith unity as speculation over the Orlando shooter’s connection to Isis continues. |
| “I want you all to know that as a Muslim I’m taught that all lives are sacred,” she said. | “I want you all to know that as a Muslim I’m taught that all lives are sacred,” she said. |
| The event included local gay choir groups singing, a group prayer and the signing of a large card that will be sent to Orlando to show solidarity. | The event included local gay choir groups singing, a group prayer and the signing of a large card that will be sent to Orlando to show solidarity. |
| “There are people who wake up everyday fear - fear that they will be killed for loving the person they love,” Barry said before the crowd lifted their candles to the sky for a moment of silence. | “There are people who wake up everyday fear - fear that they will be killed for loving the person they love,” Barry said before the crowd lifted their candles to the sky for a moment of silence. |
| “And no one should live in fear,” she continued. The city will be lighting monuments around town this evening with rainbows. | “And no one should live in fear,” she continued. The city will be lighting monuments around town this evening with rainbows. |
| Candles are being passed out as the city awaits the mayor to speak. pic.twitter.com/n50nhNppJT | Candles are being passed out as the city awaits the mayor to speak. pic.twitter.com/n50nhNppJT |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.30am BST | at 3.30am BST |
| 3.11am BST | 3.11am BST |
| 03:11 | 03:11 |
| 'He's coming. I'm gonna die' | 'He's coming. I'm gonna die' |
| The mother of one of the people trapped inside the Pulse nightclub while the attack took place has made public a string of harrowing text messages she received from her son while the shooting was unfolding. | The mother of one of the people trapped inside the Pulse nightclub while the attack took place has made public a string of harrowing text messages she received from her son while the shooting was unfolding. |
| Mina Justice showed the heartbreaking series of messages that passed between herself and her son Eddie to the Associated Press. | Mina Justice showed the heartbreaking series of messages that passed between herself and her son Eddie to the Associated Press. |
| The desperate exchange began at 2.06am when Eddie sent a message reading: “Mommy I love you.’’ | The desperate exchange began at 2.06am when Eddie sent a message reading: “Mommy I love you.’’ |
| ‘‘In club they shooting.’’ | ‘‘In club they shooting.’’ |
| As Justice tried frantically to contact her son he messaged he was: “Trapp in bathroom.” | As Justice tried frantically to contact her son he messaged he was: “Trapp in bathroom.” |
| “Pulse. Downtown. Call police.’’ | “Pulse. Downtown. Call police.’’ |
| Then, at 2.08am he wrote: “I’m gonna die.’’ | Then, at 2.08am he wrote: “I’m gonna die.’’ |
| Justice called 911 and minutes passed with no response from Eddie. | Justice called 911 and minutes passed with no response from Eddie. |
| At 2:39am he managed to get back in touch, pleading “Call them mommy. Now.’’ | At 2:39am he managed to get back in touch, pleading “Call them mommy. Now.’’ |
| “He’s coming. I’m gonna die.” | “He’s coming. I’m gonna die.” |
| When she asked if he was hurt he responded: “Lots. Yes.” | When she asked if he was hurt he responded: “Lots. Yes.” |
| His final few messages read: | His final few messages read: |
| ‘‘Still here in bathroom. He has us. They need to come get us.’’ | ‘‘Still here in bathroom. He has us. They need to come get us.’’ |
| “Hurry. He’s in the bathroom with us.’’ | “Hurry. He’s in the bathroom with us.’’ |
| ‘‘He’s a terror.’’ | ‘‘He’s a terror.’’ |
| Justice has not heard from Eddie since 2.50am. | Justice has not heard from Eddie since 2.50am. |
| ‘‘His name has not come up yet and that’s scary. It’s just ...’’ told AP. ‘‘It’s just, I got this feeling. I got a bad feeling.’’ | ‘‘His name has not come up yet and that’s scary. It’s just ...’’ told AP. ‘‘It’s just, I got this feeling. I got a bad feeling.’’ |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.07am BST | at 4.07am BST |
| 2.39am BST | 2.39am BST |
| 02:39 | 02:39 |
| Martin Farrer has some details on the rifle used by Mateen in the shooting: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | James Holmes also used this kind of weapon in his rampage at a cinema in Denver in 2012. |