Fifty killed in Orlando club shooting

[redred]

At least 50 people have been killed and some 42 injured in a shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, police say.
Orlando Police said officers entered the Pulse Club about three hours after the shooting unfolded - and killed the gunman, who had taken hostages.
The BBC understands the name of the suspect was Omar Mateen, aged 29.
Police called the shooting an act of terrorism, but said they did not know if it was domestic or international.
It is believed that the suspect was not on a terrorism watch list, although he was currently being investigated for an unrelated criminal act.
Relatives have been gathering at local hospitals desperate for news of their loved ones.
Many had received calls and texts from loved ones inside the club as the siege began, and some have heard nothing since.
Live updates
President Barack Obama was briefed about the shooting and asked to receive regular updates, a White House statement said.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the attack began at 02:00 (06:00 GMT). 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.
After this a "hostage situation" unfolded, he said.

Chief Mina said a decision was taken at 05:00 to send a police assault team into the club after receiving texts and phone calls from some of the hostages.
"Our Swat officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, the suspect is dead," he said.
"He appeared to be carrying an assault-type rifle and a handgun, and had some type of device on him."
An FBI spokesman said they were investigating whether the attacker was a "lone wolf". He said the attacker appeared to "have leanings towards" radical Islamist ideology but it was not yet clear whether this was a case of domestic or international terrorism.


At least 20 bodies have been found in the club itself, and some 42 people have been taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries, Chief Mina said.
A clubber earlier described a situation of chaos outside as the number of casualties became apparent.
"There were just bodies everywhere," Christopher Hansen said. "In the parking lot, they were tagging them - red, yellow - so they knew who to help first and who not help first. Pants down, shirts cut off, they had to find the bullets. Just blood everywhere."
Some of the injured were reportedly brought to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in police pick-ups.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/36510272

[DemonGeminiX]

The shooter's been identified as Omar Mateen.

[DemonGeminiX]

Omar Mateen, a U.S.-born citizen, has been identified as the suspect in Sunday's mass shooting that left at least 20 dead and 42 wounded at Pulse Nightclub, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Mateen's parents were born in Afghanistan, and he was "on the radar" of U.S. officials for some time, but was not the target of a specific investigation, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

A police officer working at the club responded to shots fired at 2:02 a.m., and then exchanged fire with Mateen, according to police.

The scene inside of Pulse soon transformed into "a hostage situation," when he took hostages, officials said. He was armed with an assault rifle, handgun and "some kind of device on him," according to officials.

At approximately 5 a.m., the SWAT team made the decision to rescue the hostages, officials said.

Mateen was killed in a gunfight with those officers early this morning, officials said.

[deebakes]

holy fuck, that is an insane body count for a single attacker

fucking assholes on this planet

[DemonGeminiX]

Official count is 50 killed, 53 injured.

The act has been labeled as a terrorist act.

[deebakes]

and a hate crime i would assume

[DemonGeminiX]

Against gay people. Absolutely.

[DemonGeminiX]

Pundits are calling it a militaristic ideological attack on the USA.

[DemonGeminiX]

Oh look at that: He was a Muslim and reporters are saying that he posted online about connections to radical Islam and his desire for jihad. They're also saying that police have said that he had military-style training.

So it's not about guns at all. It's about global jihad.

[deebakes]

[deebakes]

makes you wonder about the ones that we ACTUALLY ARE following and watching closely

[lost in melb.]

Oh look at that: He was a Muslim and reporters are saying that he posted online about connections to radical Islam and his desire for jihad. They're also saying that police have said that he had military-style training.

So it's not about guns at all. It's about global jihad.

That's both true and unfair.

You would also bet that he's a nutter who found a 'cause' to reinforce his delusional beliefs. And being able to get guns so easily assisted him to take things over the edge.

[redred]

It is believed that the suspect, who was a US citizen from the Florida town of Port St Lucie and was of Afghan descent, was not on a terrorism watch list, although he was being investigated for an unrelated criminal act.

guess the FBI have to hack another iphone

to the clubbers

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NBC news say they have spoken to the father of the suspected gunman by phone.

The man said: "We are saying we are apologising for the whole incident. We weren't aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country.

"This had nothing to do with religion."

He added his son "got very angry when he saw two men kissing" months before in Miami

.

[redred]

An assault rifle - AR-15 - was used on all the victims

the media's favourite gun seems to of been used