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| Orlando nightclub shooting: How the attack unfolded | Orlando nightclub shooting: How the attack unfolded |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens before being shot dead by police. What do we know about what happened? | A gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens before being shot dead by police. What do we know about what happened? |
| How the incident unfolded | How the incident unfolded |
| The attack began at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday. | |
| Pulse, which is one of the biggest nightclubs in Orlando, was holding a Latin-themed event that was nearing its end when a man opened fire. There were more than 300 people inside at the time. | |
| Shortly afterwards, the nightclub posted on its Facebook page: "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running." | Shortly afterwards, the nightclub posted on its Facebook page: "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running." |
| The gunman was carrying an AR-15-type assault rifle and a handgun. Police sources have told US media he also had a suspicious device strapped to his body. | The gunman was carrying an AR-15-type assault rifle and a handgun. Police sources have told US media he also had a suspicious device strapped to his body. |
| 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. | 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. |
| A hostage situation developed and at 05:00 local time (09:00 GMT), officers stormed the building after receiving texts and phone calls from people inside. | A hostage situation developed and at 05:00 local time (09:00 GMT), officers stormed the building after receiving texts and phone calls from people inside. |
| The attacker was shot dead in an exchange of fire with 11 officers. Police said there was also a "controlled explosion". | The attacker was shot dead in an exchange of fire with 11 officers. Police said there was also a "controlled explosion". |
| At least 50 people were killed, making it the worst mass shooting in recent US history. | |
| That figure could rise, with at least 53 wounded people taken to hospital. | That figure could rise, with at least 53 wounded people taken to hospital. |
| Latest updates on shooting aftermath | |
| Who was the gunman? | Who was the gunman? |
| Officials have named the suspect as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, a city about two hours' drive south of Orlando, in St Lucie County. | Officials have named the suspect as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, a city about two hours' drive south of Orlando, in St Lucie County. |
| His father, Seddique Mateen, said his son became "very angry" after seeing two men kissing in Miami recently. | His father, Seddique Mateen, said his son became "very angry" after seeing two men kissing in Miami recently. |
| FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper told reporters that Mateen had been interviewed by FBI officers twice in 2013 following inflammatory comments to colleagues asserting ties to the so-called Islamic State group (IS). | |
| The investigation ended after officers were unable to substantiate the claims. However, Mateen was questioned again in 2014 about a potential connection to Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, an American known to have carried out a suicide bombing in Syria. | |
| Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said that he was violent and mentally unstable and had beaten her repeatedly while they were together. | |
| Read more: Who was Omar Mateen? | Read more: Who was Omar Mateen? |
| Was there an IS link? | Was there an IS link? |
| The group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear. | The group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear. |
| A statement released by its affiliated Amaq news agency said that an IS "fighter" was responsible. | |
| An FBI spokesman said Mateen phoned emergency services during the attack and pledged allegiance to IS. | |
| The group had called for its supporters to launch attacks on the West during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that began last week. | The group had called for its supporters to launch attacks on the West during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that began last week. |
| What have eyewitnesses said? | What have eyewitnesses said? |
| There were about 320 people inside the club during the shooting, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some have been speaking about what they witnessed. | There were about 320 people inside the club during the shooting, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some have been speaking about what they witnessed. |
| "All you saw is people running and screaming and there were bodies in the parking lot where bodies were being tagged," Christopher Hansen told CNN. "It was like a scene from a horror movie." | "All you saw is people running and screaming and there were bodies in the parking lot where bodies were being tagged," Christopher Hansen told CNN. "It was like a scene from a horror movie." |
| Jon Alamo said he saw a man holding a weapon walking into the room he was in. | Jon Alamo said he saw a man holding a weapon walking into the room he was in. |
| "I heard 20, 40, 50 shots, he said. "The music stopped." | "I heard 20, 40, 50 shots, he said. "The music stopped." |
| What is the political reaction? | What is the political reaction? |
| US President Barack Obama said this was an act of terror and an act of hate, but authorities were investigating whether there were links to extremist groups. | US President Barack Obama said this was an act of terror and an act of hate, but authorities were investigating whether there were links to extremist groups. |
| The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, called on the president to resign for not using the words "Islamic terrorism". | The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, called on the president to resign for not using the words "Islamic terrorism". |
| His Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, said: "To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them. | His Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, said: "To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them. |
| "We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America." | "We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America." |
| She also said there was a need to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. | She also said there was a need to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. |
| Florida Senator Marco Rubio said gun controls would not have prevented the tragedy. | |
| He added that such so-called "lone-wolf" attacks were the hardest to prevent. |