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| Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – rolling updates | Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – rolling updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.14pm BST | |
| 17:14 | |
| Florida senator Bill Nelson has just clarified his remarks about thinking of FBI intelligence officials, saying that some officials believe there is a link to “radicalism”, an not necessarily the terror group Islamic State. | |
| There has been no claim of responsibility from any group. | |
| Orlando officials have meanwhile scheduled their next press conference for 2pm ET, after President Obama’s remarks to the nation at 1.30pm. | |
| Next press conference at 2 p.m. #PrayforOrlando | |
| 5.08pm BST | |
| 17:08 | |
| President Barack Obama has announced that he will make a speech from the White House at 1.30pm ET. | |
| He will speak from the Brady Room, the same place he emotionally pleaded with Congress “we can’t wait” to act on gun violence earlier this year. | |
| Vice-president Joe Biden has also released a statement through a spokesperson. | |
| The Vice President was briefed this morning by his national security advisor on the heinous attack that took place overnight at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Vice President Biden offered his prayers for all those killed and injured in the shooting and sends his condolences to all the families and loved ones of the victims. He is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to receive regular updates as we know more. | |
| 5.02pm BST | |
| 17:02 | |
| Florida senator: officials 'believe link to radicalism' | |
| Intelligence officials “believe that there is some link to Isis”, Florida senator Bill Nelson has just told reporters at a press conference. | |
| He cautioned repeatedly that the information is tentative, and later clarified that they believed a link to “radicalism”, and not necessarily to coordination with a terror group abroad. | |
| He confirmed that the shooter is from Ft Pierce Florida, all but affirming that his name is Omar Mateen. | |
| “Obviously he knew what he was doing,” Nelson said. “I asked the FBI if there was any connection to Isis,” he continued. “There appears to be. But they are naturally cautious and waiting throughout to see if this [the case] as the facts emerge. I have checked with intelligence staff, and they do believe that there is some link to Isis. | |
| “But I might say that is not official. | |
| Nelson then asked the public to tell authorities anything they might know about the shooter, whom he did not name, or any links to terror groups. | |
| “I asked the FBI what I should convey and because of the nature of this shooting, they have asked me to ask anybody that knows anything about the shooter, especially in the Ft Pierce, St Lucy county area, to please come forth with the information.” | |
| “This appears to be, unfortunately, since its the largest mass shooting, an act of terrorism. But the facts, we can’t say that totally yet. We are certainly having our share of violence.” | |
| Nelson ended his remarks with an appeal for reflection and unity, noting the murder on Friday night in Orlando of a pop singer after her concert. “So what is happening to our country?” | |
| We are going to have to dig down deep and ask ourslelves who we are as a people. Wev’e got to think of ourselves as the common denominator as Americans, not as a hyphenated American or off on some cause. And that’s what we’ve got to go off and exploer at this point. | |
| On CNN a few minutes earlier, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff said that he had also heard from intelligence officials about a possible link. Schiff also observed similarities between the Pulse attack and that at the Bataclan in Paris last year, “all highly indicative of an Isil-inspired attack.” | |
| Schiff also urged caution: “we still don’t know.” | |
| Rep. Schiff, who is always cautious, says Dept. of Homeland Security told him Orlando shooter made pledge of allegiance to Islamic State. | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.14pm BST | |
| 4.53pm BST | |
| 16:53 | |
| Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, was another of the speakers at the press conference just given by Florida authorities. | |
| He emphatically denounced the violence, and called for Americans to unite in the face of horror. | |
| “I’m here today to stand as a faith leader with our law enforcement community and city leadership in this hour of horror that was brought upon our city,” he said. “I’ve worked with these leaders for over 20 years. I know their caliber, their strength, their determination to make this city safe.” | |
| I call on everybody in the community who has any info to please call the FBI share what you know. I call on my fellow faith leaders, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, whatever faith you follow, please pray for the victims and their families. | |
| It’s supposed to be a beautiful morning but it is already an incredibly heartbreaking morning. It’s like lightning. This person is not likely to be connected to a network. I also want to caution the media from rushing to judgment and sensationalizing the story, we do not want the story to be shifted from the focus where it is. | |
| Musri also echoed a comment by police chief John Mina, who said of the tragedy: “We believe this could happen anywhere.” | |
| Musri said: | |
| It’s a horrible tragedy. We are mourning. We are sad. We are heartbroken. It’s not really time for any sensational news and rushing to judgment. As a nation we need to look at this issue of mass shootings, we just had one too many today. | |
| 4.43pm BST | |
| 16:43 | |
| Related: Pulse nightclub shooting - in pictures | |
| 4.30pm BST | 4.30pm BST |
| 16:30 | 16:30 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Approximately 50 people have been killed and 53 hospitalised after a shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando. | Approximately 50 people have been killed and 53 hospitalised after a shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando. |
| Florida police and Swat teams ended a hostage situation with a gunman, killing him, in the early hours of of Sunday morning. | Florida police and Swat teams ended a hostage situation with a gunman, killing him, in the early hours of of Sunday morning. |
| At a morning press conference the FBI described the shooting as an act of terrorism. It is also one of the deadliest shootings on US soil. | At a morning press conference the FBI described the shooting as an act of terrorism. It is also one of the deadliest shootings on US soil. |
| Police initially announced that there were roughly 20 dead and 42 injured. At the time they did not have complete access to the night club, which they were still trying to make sure was clear of potential explosive devices. But after securing the night club they announced the death toll was dramatically higher than originally thought. | Police initially announced that there were roughly 20 dead and 42 injured. At the time they did not have complete access to the night club, which they were still trying to make sure was clear of potential explosive devices. But after securing the night club they announced the death toll was dramatically higher than originally thought. |
| 4.17pm BST | 4.17pm BST |
| 16:17 | 16:17 |
| Police have set up a hotline for family members who believe their loved ones might have been caught up in the attacks. | Police have set up a hotline for family members who believe their loved ones might have been caught up in the attacks. |
| Police are still trying to identify all victims at the night club and hospital. | Police are still trying to identify all victims at the night club and hospital. |
| Hotline: 407-246-4357 | Hotline: 407-246-4357 |
| 4.11pm BST | 4.11pm BST |
| 16:11 | 16:11 |
| “It’s a tragedy of unimaginable proportions,” Mayor Buddy Dyer told Wesh-TV. “My heart goes out to the victims, their families. But we’re a strong resilient community.” | “It’s a tragedy of unimaginable proportions,” Mayor Buddy Dyer told Wesh-TV. “My heart goes out to the victims, their families. But we’re a strong resilient community.” |
| Dyer, who has been mayor of Orlando for 14 years, says he’s “never seen anything like this, I hope no mayor ever has to see anything like this.” | Dyer, who has been mayor of Orlando for 14 years, says he’s “never seen anything like this, I hope no mayor ever has to see anything like this.” |
| Dyer praised the first responders on the scene and said he believes their actions, particularly that of the police officer who initially exchanged fire with the gunman at the club, saved lives. | Dyer praised the first responders on the scene and said he believes their actions, particularly that of the police officer who initially exchanged fire with the gunman at the club, saved lives. |
| “There are still individuals in hospitals in serious conditions, we need to pray for them,” said Dyer, who would not be drawn on potential motives for the crime. | “There are still individuals in hospitals in serious conditions, we need to pray for them,” said Dyer, who would not be drawn on potential motives for the crime. |
| “We don’t want to speculate at this point,” he said. | “We don’t want to speculate at this point,” he said. |
| 4.02pm BST | 4.02pm BST |
| 16:02 | 16:02 |
| Blood donations sought in 'mass casualty plan' | Blood donations sought in 'mass casualty plan' |
| Michael Cheatham, a surgeon with Orlando Health, told the press briefing that local hospitals had implemented the “mass casualty plan” after the shooting and spent the morning operating on a number of victims, “many of them critically ill as a result of their injuries”. | Michael Cheatham, a surgeon with Orlando Health, told the press briefing that local hospitals had implemented the “mass casualty plan” after the shooting and spent the morning operating on a number of victims, “many of them critically ill as a result of their injuries”. |
| He asked people to consider donating blood as a way of assisting in the wake of the attack. | He asked people to consider donating blood as a way of assisting in the wake of the attack. |
| “Blood is a wonderful gift. That can be arranged through local blood banks, don’t come to the local hospitals,” said Cheatham. | “Blood is a wonderful gift. That can be arranged through local blood banks, don’t come to the local hospitals,” said Cheatham. |
| OneBlood, an organisation that promotes and facilitates blood donation, announced there was an urgent need for O Negative, O Postive and AB Plasma blood donors in the wake of the attack. | OneBlood, an organisation that promotes and facilitates blood donation, announced there was an urgent need for O Negative, O Postive and AB Plasma blood donors in the wake of the attack. |
| The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) is calling on the Muslim community to take part in a blood donation drive for those injured in the attack. | The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) is calling on the Muslim community to take part in a blood donation drive for those injured in the attack. |
| A preliminary list of sites where people can go to give blood is below: | A preliminary list of sites where people can go to give blood is below: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.39pm BST | at 4.39pm BST |
| 3.49pm BST | 3.49pm BST |
| 15:49 | 15:49 |
| State of emergency declared - Orlando mayor | State of emergency declared - Orlando mayor |
| A state of emergency has been declared across the city of Orlando, Mayor Dyer has announced, to allow law enforcement officials to focus on the investigation of the shooting at Pulse night club overnight. | A state of emergency has been declared across the city of Orlando, Mayor Dyer has announced, to allow law enforcement officials to focus on the investigation of the shooting at Pulse night club overnight. |
| Speaking at a press conference near the site of the shooting, law enforcement officials gave an update on the process of the investigation. | Speaking at a press conference near the site of the shooting, law enforcement officials gave an update on the process of the investigation. |
| Police said the focus was on securing the night club and the surrounding area, including the suspect’s vehicle, a van parked outside the club. Once these areas were secure, they would be able to start removing bodies and notifying family members. | Police said the focus was on securing the night club and the surrounding area, including the suspect’s vehicle, a van parked outside the club. Once these areas were secure, they would be able to start removing bodies and notifying family members. |
| “In the last few hours, the members of law enforcement community have been working diligently to make certain we did not have any secondary type devices,” said Sheriff Jerry Demings. | “In the last few hours, the members of law enforcement community have been working diligently to make certain we did not have any secondary type devices,” said Sheriff Jerry Demings. |
| “That process has taken an extended period of time. That’s why we have not been able to remove all the victims from the crisis site. We probably have another hour to two before we secure the site.” | “That process has taken an extended period of time. That’s why we have not been able to remove all the victims from the crisis site. We probably have another hour to two before we secure the site.” |
| Police chief John Mina thanked the country for the outpouring of support. | Police chief John Mina thanked the country for the outpouring of support. |
| “I want to commend the heroic and courageous actions of the first responders who were involved in an exchange of gunfire and the Swat team who were able to save up to 30 potential victims,” he said. | “I want to commend the heroic and courageous actions of the first responders who were involved in an exchange of gunfire and the Swat team who were able to save up to 30 potential victims,” he said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.38pm BST | at 4.38pm BST |
| 3.24pm BST | 3.24pm BST |
| 15:24 | 15:24 |
| 50 dead, 53 wounded in attack, says mayor | 50 dead, 53 wounded in attack, says mayor |
| Mayor Dyer confirmed to a press conference that there were 50 killed and 53 hospitalised in the shooting, not 20 killed and 42 hospitalised as initially reported by police. | Mayor Dyer confirmed to a press conference that there were 50 killed and 53 hospitalised in the shooting, not 20 killed and 42 hospitalised as initially reported by police. |
| John Mina, chief of police said that initially officers believed there were 20 dead. But now that they have been able to access the entirety of the building, they can confirm up to 50 people have been killed. | John Mina, chief of police said that initially officers believed there were 20 dead. But now that they have been able to access the entirety of the building, they can confirm up to 50 people have been killed. |
| “There were more victims than originally thought. Once we were sure there were no devices and could go in confidently, we were able to see the number of victims,” said Mina. | “There were more victims than originally thought. Once we were sure there were no devices and could go in confidently, we were able to see the number of victims,” said Mina. |
| Mina said these numbers meant the shooting ranked as “definitely one of the worst tragedies.” | Mina said these numbers meant the shooting ranked as “definitely one of the worst tragedies.” |
| “It’s absolutely terrible, 50 casualties, one location, it’s absolutely one of the worst tragedies we’ve seen,” he said. | “It’s absolutely terrible, 50 casualties, one location, it’s absolutely one of the worst tragedies we’ve seen,” he said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.42pm BST | at 3.42pm BST |