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| Omar Mateen identified as shooter in Orlando nightclub attack | Omar Mateen identified as shooter in Orlando nightclub attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The suspect in the shooting that killed 50 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando early on Sunday morning is believed to be a US citizen of Afghan heritage named as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man from Florida. | The suspect in the shooting that killed 50 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando early on Sunday morning is believed to be a US citizen of Afghan heritage named as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man from Florida. |
| The shooting, the worst such mass attack in modern US history, left at least 50 dead and 53 injured, according to police. | The shooting, the worst such mass attack in modern US history, left at least 50 dead and 53 injured, according to police. |
| Related: ‘Everyone get out and keep running': how the Orlando attack unfolded | Related: ‘Everyone get out and keep running': how the Orlando attack unfolded |
| Sources including the Florida congressman Alan Grayson named the alleged shooter as Mateen, but details about the suspect, who police said was killed after a three-hour standoff, remained scarce. | |
| Mateen was born in New York 29 years ago, and his parents immigrated from Afghanistan. | Mateen was born in New York 29 years ago, and his parents immigrated from Afghanistan. |
| On Sunday, the Florida senator Bill Nelson told reporters at a press conference intelligence officials “believe that there is some link to [Islamic State]”, although he later said the possible link was to “radicalism”, not necessarily Isis. | |
| Cautioning repeatedly that the information was tentative, Nelson confirmed that the shooter was from Fort Pierce, Florida, all but affirming that the attacker was Mateen. | Cautioning repeatedly that the information was tentative, Nelson confirmed that the shooter was from Fort Pierce, Florida, all but affirming that the attacker was Mateen. |
| “Obviously he knew what he was doing,” Nelson said in his initial remarks. “I asked the FBI if there was any connection to Isis. 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. | “Obviously he knew what he was doing,” Nelson said in his initial remarks. “I asked the FBI if there was any connection to Isis. 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.” | “But I might say that is not official.” |
| A knowledgeable US official, however, told the Guardian that while an unfolding federal investigation was in the earliest stages, an initial hypothesis regarding the shooter’s motive leaned closer to a hate crime than an act of terrorism. | A knowledgeable US official, however, told the Guardian that while an unfolding federal investigation was in the earliest stages, an initial hypothesis regarding the shooter’s motive leaned closer to a hate crime than an act of terrorism. |
| “The idea of it being terrorism is not off the table, but it’s probably not the principal approach,” said the official, who would not be identified by name or agency in discussing a fast-moving investigation. | “The idea of it being terrorism is not off the table, but it’s probably not the principal approach,” said the official, who would not be identified by name or agency in discussing a fast-moving investigation. |
| “There are other reasons to believe it was motivated toward a very specific kind of community, obviously.” | “There are other reasons to believe it was motivated toward a very specific kind of community, obviously.” |
| That investigation was still determining if the shooting was “terrorism or a massive, massive hate crime”, the official said. | That investigation was still determining if the shooting was “terrorism or a massive, massive hate crime”, the official said. |
| The official emphasized that all hypotheses were preliminary. Investigators were still gathering facts about the mass-casualty incident on Sunday morning. | The official emphasized that all hypotheses were preliminary. Investigators were still gathering facts about the mass-casualty incident on Sunday morning. |
| Authorities said it was not immediately clear if the shooter was working alone, or had outside support or training. When killed, he was carrying a pistol and an assault rifle. | Authorities said it was not immediately clear if the shooter was working alone, or had outside support or training. When killed, he was carrying a pistol and an assault rifle. |
| Related: Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – rolling updates | Related: Florida nightclub shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – rolling updates |
| Mir Seddique, Mateen’s father, told NBC News: “This has nothing to do with religion.” He added that his son was infuriated when he recently saw two men kissing in Miami. | Mir Seddique, Mateen’s father, told NBC News: “This has nothing to do with religion.” He added that his son was infuriated when he recently saw two men kissing in Miami. |
| Authorities in Port St Lucie, Florida, about an hour and a half south of Orlando, descended on the home on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard where Mateen lived. His neighbors were not immediately reachable for further comment. | Authorities in Port St Lucie, Florida, about an hour and a half south of Orlando, descended on the home on Southwest Bayshore Boulevard where Mateen lived. His neighbors were not immediately reachable for further comment. |
| Mateen had no criminal background that was immediately accessible. According to state records, Mateen held licenses to work as a security guard and carry a firearm in Florida, and was registered to vote as a member of the Democratic party. He was also registered as a notary public. | |
| He was married in 2009, but it was unclear whether he remained married at the time of the shooting. | He was married in 2009, but it was unclear whether he remained married at the time of the shooting. |