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Omar Mateen identified as shooter in Orlando nightclub attack Omar Mateen identified as shooter in Orlando nightclub attack
(about 1 hour 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. In the hours after the deadliest shooting in American history, a preliminary sketch of the perpetrator emerged. According to the FBI, he had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State. Reportedly, he had been enraged by seeing gay men in public.
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 unfoldedRelated: ‘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. Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man from Florida’s Treasure Coast, killed 50 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, starting at about 2am on Sunday, and was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. Mateen was a US citizen, born in New York to parents who had immigrated from Afghanistan.
Mateen was born in New York 29 years ago, and his parents immigrated from Afghanistan. The security firm G4S confirmed in a statement on Sunday that it had employed him since September 2007. The shooting left 53 injured, according to police.
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. The security firm G4S confirmed in a statement on Sunday that it had employed Mateen since September 2007.
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. The FBI agent Ron Hopper said on Sunday afternoon that Mateen had a history with the agency. Agents first became aware of Mateen in 2013, after he made inflammatory statements to co-workers about affiliations with a terror group. The FBI interviewed him twice, Hopper said, but could not substantiate any connection to terrorists.
“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. In 2014, Hopper said, the FBI interviewed Mateen again because of a connection to a suicide bomber. But, he said, “contact was minimal” and Mateen was released.
Despite those interactions, according to state records, Mateen held licenses to work as a security guard and carry a firearm in Florida. A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said Mateen had purchased the weapons he used in the Orlando shooting within the past week.
Just before the shooting, Hopper said, Mateen declared in a 911 call his allegiance “in general to the Islamic State”.
Earlier, the Florida senator Bill Nelson said: “Obviously he knew what he was doing. 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 [is 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. Florida governor Rick Scott said: “Clearly this is 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 full extent of Mateen’s motivations may have been complex and less clear than immediately apparent, though. A knowledgeable US official told the Guardian that while the 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.
“There are other reasons to believe it was motivated toward a very specific kind of community, obviously.” “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.”
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. 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 updatesRelated: 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. Mateen was married in 2009. The Washington Post reported that he was divorced in 2011.
He was married in 2009, but it was unclear whether he remained married at the time of the shooting.