Worse Mass Shooting In U.S. In Orlando
Live video courtesy of FOX News
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer confirmed that 50 people were slain in what CNN and the Associated Press are calling the worst mass shooting in US history, early Sunday at an Orlando gay nightclub, and the shooter was killed in a gunfight with police, authorities said.
Dyer also declared a state of emergency in the city of Orlando and Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency after the shooting, which police are considering an act of domestic terror.
Sen. Bill Nelson said that there appears to be connection to radical Islamic terrorism, possibly ISIS.
“I asked the FBI if there was any connection to Islamic radicalism. There appears to be. But they are naturally cautious and waiting throughout to see if this is, facts emerge,” Nelson said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses say the lone gunmen, named as Omar Mateen, began firing inside the Pulse Club in Orlando shortly after 2am. He was thought that is to have specifically targeted the gay club after seeing two men kissing in another city.
Speaking to NBC, the suspect’s dad, Mir Seddique, apologized for his son’s deadly actions.
He said: “We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident. It is believed that Mateen’s parents are originally from Afghanistan.
“We were not aware of the actions he was taking. We are in shock like the whole of the country. This had nothing to do with religion.”
He added that he believed Mateene carried out the killings after seeing two gay men kissing in Miami two months ago.
Meanwhile, Florida Governor Rick Scott says today’s mass shooting was ‘clearly an act of terror’.
Scott addressed reporters after a gunman slaughtered 50 people at the Pulse club in Orlando.
His comments followed Sen. Bill Nelson’s comments that he believes that attack was linked to ISIS.
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