Orlando shooting: Islamic State claims responsibility
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has described gay nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, as an act of terror and an act of hate. He said, Americans were united in grief, outrage and resolve to defend their people. President has ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of the victims of the worst mass shooting in US history.
A gunman killed 50 people and injured 53 others at the Pulse club before being shot dead by police yesterday. The Islamic State militant group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear. The FBI has identified the shooter as 29-year old Omar Saddiqui Mateen, an American born to Afghan parents.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani sent his condolences to the families of the victims. Pope Francis yesterday led the condemnation. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the killings a barbaric crime. Other World leaders also condemned the massacre at US nightclub.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed shock over shoot out at a night club in Orlando, United States. In a tweet message, he said that his prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured.
The attack began at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday, said Police Chief John Mina.Pulse, which is one of the biggest nightclubs in Orlando, Florida, was holding a Latin-themed event that was nearing its end when a man opened fire inside.
Shortly afterwards, the nightclub posted on its Facebook page: “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running.”The gunman was carrying an AR-15-type assault rifle and a handgun. Police sources have told US media he also had a suspicious device strapped to his body.
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.
A hostage situation developed and at 05:00 local time (09:00 GMT), officers stormed the building after receiving texts and phone calls from people inside.
The attacker was shot dead in an exchange of fire with 11 officers. Police said there was also a “controlled explosion”.At least 50 people are also dead, making it the worst mass shooting in recent US history.
That figure could rise, with at least 53 wounded people taken to hospital.Officials have named the suspect as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, a city about two hours’ drive south of Orlando, in St Lucie County.
His father, Seddique Mateen, said his son became “very angry” after seeing two men kissing in Miami recently.FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper told reporters that Mateen had been interviewed by FBI officers twice in 2013 following inflammatory comments to colleagues asserting ties to IS.
The investigation ended after officers were unable to substantiate the claims. However, Mateen was questioned again in 2014 about a potential connection to Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, the American known to have carried out a suicide bombing in the Syria conflict.
Mateen’s ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said that he was violent and mentally unstable and had beaten her repeatedly.The group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear.A statement on its affiliated Amaq news agency said that an IS “fighter” was responsible.
An FBI spokesman said Mateen phoned emergency services before the attack and pledged allegiance to IS.The group had called for its supporters to launch attacks on the West during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that began last week.
What have eyewitnesses said?
There were about 320 people inside the club during the shooting, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some have been speaking about what they witnessed.”All you saw is people running and screaming and there were bodies in the parking lot where bodies were being tagged,” Christopher Hansen told CNN. “It was like a scene from a horror movie.”
Jon Alamo said he saw a man holding a weapon walking into the room he was in.”I heard 20, 40, 50 shots, he said. “The music stopped.Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.Media captionPresident Obama: “We are united in grief, outrage – and resolve”
US President Barack Obama said this was an act of terror and an act of hate, but authorities were investigating whether there were links to extremist groups.The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, called on the president to resign for not using the words “Islamic terrorism”.
His Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, said: “To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them.”We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America.”
She also said there was a need to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. Florida Senator Marco Rubio told CNN the gunman was an “animal” whose act of violence showed that “this is the new face of the war on terror”.
He also paid tribute to the police officers who “saved lives” by raiding the club to bring the attack to an end.
