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| Orlando gay nightclub shooting: 50 killed, suspect is Omar Mateen | Orlando gay nightclub shooting: 50 killed, suspect is Omar Mateen |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fifty people are now known to have died in a shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the city's mayor Buddy Dyer has said. | Fifty people are now known to have died in a shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the city's mayor Buddy Dyer has said. |
| The gunman, named by officials as Omar Mateen, was killed after taking hostages at the Pulse club. | The gunman, named by officials as Omar Mateen, was killed after taking hostages at the Pulse club. |
| President Barack Obama said Americans were united in grief, outrage and "resolve to defend our people" after "an act of terror and an act of hate". | President Barack Obama said Americans were united in grief, outrage and "resolve to defend our people" after "an act of terror and an act of hate". |
| The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history. | The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history. |
| A nationwide moment of silence will be held at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT). | |
| Officials said the killings were likely to be ideologically motivated, though there was no information that the gunman was associated with a particular group. | Officials said the killings were likely to be ideologically motivated, though there was no information that the gunman was associated with a particular group. |
| Live updates | Live updates |
| What we know | What we know |
| Eyewitness accounts | Eyewitness accounts |
| However, US Congressman Alan Grayson said it was "no coincidence" the attack happened in a gay club. | However, US Congressman Alan Grayson said it was "no coincidence" the attack happened in a gay club. |
| "It may be we've seen the commission of an awful hate crime," he added. | "It may be we've seen the commission of an awful hate crime," he added. |
| Mateen's father Mir Seddique told NBC News that the incident had nothing to do with religion, and may have been triggered by the sight of a gay couple kissing in Miami. | Mateen's father Mir Seddique told NBC News that the incident had nothing to do with religion, and may have been triggered by the sight of a gay couple kissing in Miami. |
| But NBC News reported that Mateen called the emergency services before the attack and swore allegiance to the so-called Islamic State militant group. | But NBC News reported that Mateen called the emergency services before the attack and swore allegiance to the so-called Islamic State militant group. |
| The group later said - via its affiliated Amaq news agency - that an IS "fighter" had carried out the attack. | The group later said - via its affiliated Amaq news agency - that an IS "fighter" had carried out the attack. |
| The claim did not specify whether IS was directly involved or simply taking credit for inspiring the attack. | The claim did not specify whether IS was directly involved or simply taking credit for inspiring the attack. |
| Condemnation | Condemnation |
| Mr Obama described the attack as "the brutal murder of dozens of innocent people". | Mr Obama described the attack as "the brutal murder of dozens of innocent people". |
| "It was an act of terror and an act of hate," he said, adding that it was a heartbreaking day for the LGBT community. | "It was an act of terror and an act of hate," he said, adding that it was a heartbreaking day for the LGBT community. |
| An attack on any American is an attack on all, he added. "We are united in grief, in outrage and resolve to defend our people." | An attack on any American is an attack on all, he added. "We are united in grief, in outrage and resolve to defend our people." |
| Mr Obama ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half mast until sunset on Thursday, AP reported. | Mr Obama ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half mast until sunset on Thursday, AP reported. |
| French President Francois Hollande expressed "horror" at the killings, and said Americans had the "full support of France" in this "difficult time". | French President Francois Hollande expressed "horror" at the killings, and said Americans had the "full support of France" in this "difficult time". |
| Pope Francis condemned the "homicidal folly" of the shooting. | Pope Francis condemned the "homicidal folly" of the shooting. |
| The suspect, who was a US citizen from the Florida town of Port St Lucie and was of Afghan descent, was not on a terrorism watch list. | |
| However, officials revealed that the FBI had twice interviewed Omar Mateen in 2013-14 after he made "inflammatory remarks" to a colleague. But the investigation was closed. | |
| The death toll of 50 given by Mayor Dyer means that the Orlando attack surpasses the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech which left 32 people dead. | The death toll of 50 given by Mayor Dyer means that the Orlando attack surpasses the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech which left 32 people dead. |
| Another 53 people were injured in the shooting. | Another 53 people were injured in the shooting. |
| "Today we're dealing with something that we never imagined and is unimaginable," he said, adding that there was "an enormous amount of havoc" and "blood everywhere". | "Today we're dealing with something that we never imagined and is unimaginable," he said, adding that there was "an enormous amount of havoc" and "blood everywhere". |
| "Because of the scale of the crime I've asked the [Florida] governor to declare a state of emergency," he said. | "Because of the scale of the crime I've asked the [Florida] governor to declare a state of emergency," he said. |
| "We're also issuing a state of emergency for the city of Orlando so that we can bring additional resources to bear to deal with the aftermath." | "We're also issuing a state of emergency for the city of Orlando so that we can bring additional resources to bear to deal with the aftermath." |
| Security has also been boosted for the last day of the Capital Pride LGBT festival in Washington DC, which included a moment of silence for the Orlando victims at 13:00 local time, the Washington Post reported. | Security has also been boosted for the last day of the Capital Pride LGBT festival in Washington DC, which included a moment of silence for the Orlando victims at 13:00 local time, the Washington Post reported. |
| Worst US mass shootings in last 25 years | Worst US mass shootings in last 25 years |
| Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the attack began at 02:00 (06:00 GMT). There was an exchange of fire with a police officer working at the club, but it is unclear whether that was inside or outside the venue. | Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the attack began at 02:00 (06:00 GMT). There was an exchange of fire with a police officer working at the club, but it is unclear whether that was inside or outside the venue. |
| After this a "hostage situation" unfolded, he said. | After this a "hostage situation" unfolded, he said. |
| Chief Mina said a decision was taken at 05:00 to send a police assault team into the club after receiving texts and phone calls from some of the hostages. | Chief Mina said a decision was taken at 05:00 to send a police assault team into the club after receiving texts and phone calls from some of the hostages. |
| He said the suspect, who appeared to be carrying an assault-type rifle and a handgun, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with 11 officers. | |
| It has also emerged that the suspect purchased multiple guns in the past few days. | |
| According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, the US last year suffered 372 mass shootings, defined as a single incident that kills or injures four or more people. Some 475 people were killed and 1,870 wounded. | According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, the US last year suffered 372 mass shootings, defined as a single incident that kills or injures four or more people. Some 475 people were killed and 1,870 wounded. |
| The latest incident came as Orlando was still reeling from the fatal shooting on Friday night of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie following a concert in the city. | The latest incident came as Orlando was still reeling from the fatal shooting on Friday night of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie following a concert in the city. |
| Were you at the Orlando Pulse nightclub? Or nearby when the incident happened? | Were you at the Orlando Pulse nightclub? Or nearby when the incident happened? |
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