A gay nightclub in Orlando was the scene early Sunday of the worst terror attack in U.S. history since 9/11.
50 people were killed when gunman Omar Mateen of Ft. Pierce, Florida opened fire inside Pulse nightclub where 300 members of the LGBT community were partying.
Orlando nightclub 'terrorist's' ex-wife says he beat her and was 'unstable' https://t.co/eBvNYAlMYr
— The Independent (@Independent) June 12, 2016
Pulse gunman identified as Omar Mateen; family says he was enraged by seeing men kissing https://t.co/MFygfq80Rt pic.twitter.com/z3JZpO93Pw
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 12, 2016
At least 53 others were injured. Police shot and killed Mateen after a shootout.
via CNN:
“It appears he was organized and well-prepared,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said early Sunday. The shooter had an assault-type weapon, a handgun and “some type of (other) device on him.”
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack on jihadi forums, but ISIS sympathizers have reacted by praising the attack on pro-Islamic State forums.
Officials, aided by the FBI, warned that a lengthy investigation was ahead given the number of victims and the scope of the violence.
“There’s blood everywhere,” U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson told reporters. “There’s an enormous amount of evidence to be collected.”
It’s just shocking,” said Christopher Hansen, who was inside Pulse when he heard gunshots, “just one after another after another.”
“It could have lasted a whole song,” he said.
Hansen was getting a drink at the bar about 2 a.m. when he “just saw bodies going down.”
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he had declared a state of emergency for the city and has requested the governor do the same for the state.
