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| Orlando shootings: Club attacker 'disturbed' says ex-wife | Orlando shootings: Club attacker 'disturbed' says ex-wife |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The ex-wife of a man who opened fire on a gay nightclub in Orlando in the early hours of Sunday has said he was "mentally unstable" and "disturbed". | The ex-wife of a man who opened fire on a gay nightclub in Orlando in the early hours of Sunday has said he was "mentally unstable" and "disturbed". |
| Omar Mateen killed 50 people and wounded 53 more in the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, before being shot dead by police. | Omar Mateen killed 50 people and wounded 53 more in the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, before being shot dead by police. |
| The so-called Islamic State group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear. | The so-called Islamic State group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear. |
| A security company that Mateen used to work for said he was vetted twice. | A security company that Mateen used to work for said he was vetted twice. |
| The checks in 2007 and 2013 did not reveal anything of concern, G4S said, and Mateen had carried a gun as part of his job. | The checks in 2007 and 2013 did not reveal anything of concern, G4S said, and Mateen had carried a gun as part of his job. |
| Live updates | Live updates |
| Who was Omar Mateen? | Who was Omar Mateen? |
| How attacks unfolded | How attacks unfolded |
| LGBT community under siege | LGBT community under siege |
| Sitora Yusufiy lived with Mateen for four months in 2009. She said her family "rescued" her from the relationship when they became aware that he was being physically abusive. | |
| He beat her up regularly during their short-lived marriage for trivial things like not doing laundry, she said. | He beat her up regularly during their short-lived marriage for trivial things like not doing laundry, she said. |
| "When he would get in his tempers, he would express hate toward everything. He was mentally unstable and mentally ill: that's the only explanation that I could give." | |
| Mateen, a US citizen of Afghan descent who was born in New York and lived in Florida, was not on a terrorism watch list. | Mateen, a US citizen of Afghan descent who was born in New York and lived in Florida, was not on a terrorism watch list. |
| However, officials revealed that the FBI had twice interviewed him in 2013-14 after he made "inflammatory remarks" to a colleague, before closing their investigation. | However, officials revealed that the FBI had twice interviewed him in 2013-14 after he made "inflammatory remarks" to a colleague, before closing their investigation. |
| It has emerged that he legally purchased several guns in the past few days. | It has emerged that he legally purchased several guns in the past few days. |
| Hostages | Hostages |
| The attack began at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday at the Pulse nightclub. There was an exchange of fire with a police officer working at the club, after which the suspect took hostages. | The attack began at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday at the Pulse nightclub. There was an exchange of fire with a police officer working at the club, after which the suspect took hostages. |
| At 05:00 a police assault team went into the club after police received text messages and phone calls from some of the hostages. Mateen was killed in an exchange of fire. | At 05:00 a police assault team went into the club after police received text messages and phone calls from some of the hostages. Mateen was killed in an exchange of fire. |
| Ten of his victims have so far been named: Edward Sotomayor Jr, Stanley Almodovar III, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, Luis S Vielma, Kimberly Morris, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice and Darryl Roman Burt II. | Ten of his victims have so far been named: Edward Sotomayor Jr, Stanley Almodovar III, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, Luis S Vielma, Kimberly Morris, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice and Darryl Roman Burt II. |
| A statement on the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said that an IS "fighter" was responsible. | A statement on the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said that an IS "fighter" was responsible. |
| NBC News reported that Mateen had called the emergency services before the attack and sworn allegiance to IS. | NBC News reported that Mateen had called the emergency services before the attack and sworn allegiance to IS. |
| Mateen's father has said religion had nothing to do with the attack. | Mateen's father has said religion had nothing to do with the attack. |
| Seddique Mateen said his son saw two men kissing in downtown Miami some months ago and became very angry. | |
| He said: "We are apologising for the whole incident. We are in shock, like the whole country." | |
| US President Barack Obama has described the attack as "an act of terror and an act of hate". | US President Barack Obama has described the attack as "an act of terror and an act of hate". |
| It was a further reminder of how easy it was to acquire a deadly weapon in the US and shoot people, he said. | |
| "We have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be," said the president, who has campaigned for stricter gun laws. "To actively do nothing is a decision as well." | "We have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be," said the president, who has campaigned for stricter gun laws. "To actively do nothing is a decision as well." |
| Mr Obama has ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half mast until sunset on Thursday. | Mr Obama has ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half mast until sunset on Thursday. |
| Later the White House said Mr Obama had postponed a joint appearance with the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee for president, Hillary Clinton. | Later the White House said Mr Obama had postponed a joint appearance with the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee for president, Hillary Clinton. |
| Mrs Clinton said in a statement: "This reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets." | Mrs Clinton said in a statement: "This reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets." |
| And in a message to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people, she said: "We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America." | And in a message to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people, she said: "We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America." |
| 'Get tough and smart' | 'Get tough and smart' |
| Meanwhile her Republican rival, Donald Trump, said Mr Obama should step down for refusing to use the words "radical Islam" when condemning the attack. | Meanwhile her Republican rival, Donald Trump, said Mr Obama should step down for refusing to use the words "radical Islam" when condemning the attack. |
| "If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country any more," he said. | "If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country any more," he said. |
| The head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations urged politicians not to "score points" or "exploit fear". | |
| In a direct message to IS, Nihad Awad said: "You do not speak for us. You do not represent us. You are an aberration." | In a direct message to IS, Nihad Awad said: "You do not speak for us. You do not represent us. You are an aberration." |
| The death toll means that the Orlando attack surpasses the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, which left 32 people dead. | The death toll means that the Orlando attack surpasses the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, which left 32 people dead. |
| States of emergency have been declared in the city of Orlando and surrounding Orange County. | States of emergency have been declared in the city of Orlando and surrounding Orange County. |
| Worst US mass shootings in last 25 years | Worst US mass shootings in last 25 years |
| According to the crowd-sourced 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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