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| Omar Mateen |
The Islamic State group on Monday claimed responsibility for
the Orlando shooting that killed 50 people, saying in a radio bulletin that it
was carried out by “one of the soldiers of the caliphate”.
“God allowed Omar Mateen, one of the soldiers of the
caliphate in America, to carry out an attack entering a crusader gathering in a
night club… in Orlando in Florida, killing and wounding more than 100 of them,”
The IS-linked news agency Amaq said on Sunday that the
attack on the gay night club had been “carried out by an Islamic State
fighter”.
US media reported that the gunman, identified as Omar
Mateen, a 29-year old American citizen, had pledged allegiance to the jihadist
group IS.
The FBI has admitted that Mateen who was born to Afghan
parents in New York had previously been investigated, but cleared, for ties
to a US suicide bomber. The worst mass shooting in US history left 50 people
dead, in addition to the shooter, and wounded 53 others.
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| The scene of the shooting |
The first came when an off-duty officer who had been working
at the nightclub responded to shots fired at about 2 a.m., Chief Mina said.
Additional officers rushed to the scene, he said, and entered the nightclub
where they engaged in a gun battle with Mr. Mateen, forcing him to retreat to a
bathroom where officers believed he had four to five hostages. About 15 to 20
people were in another bathroom.
“At that time we were able to save and rescue dozens and
dozens of people and get them out of the club,” Chief Mina said. A SWAT team was
called and took up positions in a bathroom across from where Mr. Mateen had
holed up.
US President Barack Obama said the FBI was investigating the
killings “as an act of terrorism”.
The father of the suspect said his son may have been
motivated by homophobia.
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