Pulse Orlando nightclub shooting claims dozens of lives as police search for links between the perpetrator and ISIS.
A day after a gunman killed dozens of people in the Orlando nightclub shooting, police began investigating ties of the killer with ISIS. Americans are united in their grief at the most horrible shooting in the history of their country.
Florida Pulse Gay nightclub shooting claimed 49 victims as per the statement of a special FBI Special Agent, Paul Wysopal. A death toll released earlier stated the number of dead as 50, but it also included the attacker.
The Mayor’s office stated on Monday that 48 victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting had been identified and the next of kin of 24 victims had also be notified of the tragedy.
Orlando nightclub shooting suspect, Omar Mateen was killed in a gun battle with the authorities when he tried to escape through a hole created by the police for rescuing the hostages.
As per the statement of the chief of police, Mateen came out of the hole created by the police, and immediately engaged in a gunfight. He was ultimately taken out by the police.
The 29-year-old Mateen from Fort Pierce, Florida was carrying an assault rifle and a pistol. He entered the packed club in the early hours of the morning and started shooting indiscriminately. Besides killing 49 people, he also managed to badly hurt more than 50 others.
During the Pulse nightclub shooting, the attacker called 911 and pledged allegiance to ISIS. He also mentioned the Boston Marathon bombers during the call.
The Florida shooting resulted in a standoff for about three hours. There were people trapped inside the club who were calling their friends and relatives for help. Police managed to crash into the club with the help of an armored car.
Orlando shooting is being regarded as the one of the worst terror attacks in U.S history. The chief of police of Orlando stated recently that the attacker was fully prepared and seemed fairly well organized. As for accomplices, they haven’t been able to point out a single one.
Supporters of ISIS have praised the Florida attacker on several internet forums. An official on the radio channel pertaining to the group, Al-Bayan said that it was an attack on the ‘gathering of crusaders.’
President Barack Obama addresses the nation of Sunday during which he said that it was an act of terror and an act of hate.
Orlando nightclub shooting suspect Omar Mateen was born in the United States in 1986. He was a native of Fort Pierce which is situated some distance from Orlando.
When police was searching his apartment, they feared explosive devices and evacuated people from the complex. Mateen’s parents are from Afghanistan. They have said that their son wasn’t very religious and had no connections with ISIS.
