Orlando police reports that there was a mass shooting at Orlando Pulse nightclub, in USA. The nightclub is primarily for gays. The shooter left 50 casualties and others injured.
The shooter has been identified as Omar Saddiqui Mateen from Afghanistan. It has been revealed that in addition to the mass casualties, over 50 people were injured. The shooting started at about 2am.
Meanwhile, the President Barack Obama decried the deadliest mass shooting in American history on Sunday as a terrorist act and said the alleged shooter was filled with hatred.
“What is clear is he was a person filled with hatred,” …”We know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. And as Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people.”
President Obama, who has proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, called the attack “heartbreaking” for the LGBT community.
Obama also signed a proclamation on Sunday ordering flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday in honor of the victims.
Father’s victim speaks out, Mir Seddique, the suspected shooter’s father, told NBC News that the mass shooting had “nothing to do with religion.” He also said Mateen got angry when he saw two men kissing in downtown Miami a couple of months ago and that he thinks that may have been a trigger in the shooting.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the shooting through a statement via its Amaq news agency
Police decided to go into the nightclub 3 hours later as soon as it became known that hostages were involved. 30 hostages were reportedly freed.
According to Orlando police officer, Chief John Mina said in the police briefing that about 9 officers were involved in the shooting and that one of the officers was injured in the shooting but it is not life threatening.
Police advise the public to use the “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING” attitude in order to enable the police gather more information relating to this incident.
The shooter reportedly had a handgun, assault rifle as well as suspected explosive device on him. The device is however, being investigated.
Meanwhile, this shooting incident has been classified and is being investigated as an act of terrorism. It is still unclear whether it is domestic terrorism or international terrorism.
Evidences are being collected to determine the motive of this shooting incident.
Eyewitness, Christopher Hansen, said he was in the VIP lounge when he started hearing gunshots. According to him:
“I was thinking, are you kidding me? So I just dropped down. I just said please, please, please, I want to make it out,” he said. “And when I did, I saw people shot. I saw blood. You hope and pray you don’t get shot.”
