Police are confirming shooter is dead. Attacker reportedly claimed he had bomb. Police set off a controlled explosion shortly before it was announced that the shooter was dead.
A shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub has resulted in mass casualties.
Dozens of emergency vehicles surrounded the chaotic scene at the club at 1912 S. Orange Ave. after the 2 a.m. shooting and rescue squads were transporting multiple victims to area hospitals.
Update:
Click on for Facebook video, parking lot turned into triage.
Update:
Police press conference:
-many lives lost tonight, many others saved by police.
-officer was at club at time, shot at person, who went back in club, hostage situation.
-decision made to go in at 5 am. Had rifle and handgun. Had device on him.
-Multiple people dead inside. At least 42 people transported to hospital.
-100 of Orlando personnel engaged in covering this incident. FBI, other agencies involved.
-Classified as ‘terror incident’, not sure if ‘lone wolf’ or has any associates
-nine officers involved in shooting of suspect, one officer slightly injured, kevlar helmet saved his life.
-maybe 20 estimated dead, at least 30 saved in rescue.
– question asked tie into Islamic ideology, response ‘indications he may have had leanings toward that ideology’.
– ‘some devices found’, unknown if they are real or not. Appears he was organized and well-prepared. He is not from this area.
-did explosive entry to distract suspect to rescue people.
-no indication at this point that any others involved or that there is any risk to anyone else at this time.
“Multiple people are dead inside”
Police treating Orlando shooting as “an act of terrorism”https://t.co/rVSzoSakq0 https://t.co/z0wicJSGiz— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 12, 2016
Update:
FBI agent interviewed on Fox is saying that rifle used in assault, devices on scene although no explosives yet confirmed, made threats previously related to Islamic terrorism.
Update:
#PulseShooting: Witness describes chaotic scene at Orlando #Pulse Gay Nightclub: “He was shooting everywhere.” https://t.co/4Feo1uy7f3
— Kris Cruz (@rc_kris) June 12, 2016
Another press conference is planned for 9:30 am in about half an hour.
Update:
Terrorist identified:
Update:
This appears to be the voter data on the terrorist (yes, he’s a registered Democrat):
This appears to be pic of the shooter, and he still has pics up on a myspace. Troubling, wearing NYPD clothing, we do note that such clothing can be bought easily.
Update:
Update:
Press conference:
Just update numbers of the dead, now saying 50 dead, 53 injured. They have declared a state of emergency, saying the number of victims still in club is going to take some time to assess.
Nightclub has been cleared of devices.
Local Imam, Imam Muhammad Musri saying they have determined there has been no connection to anyone else. No, they haven’t. ‘No one could have predicted this’. Well, yes we could since we received threats from ISIS for Ramadan. Now he’s saying we have to look to issue of mass shootings, ‘we must do something to stop the mass shootings that are happening all the time’. But don’t jump to conclusions that it has any relation to Islam…
Suspect had handgun and AR15.
Update:
Here comes more spin. Father claims it has nothing to do with religion, son was just upset over seeing gay men kissing recently.
Father of shooter:
-“We are apologizing for the whole incident”
-Son got “angry when he saw 2 men kissing” in Miami https://t.co/AGM2ZYkH4E— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 12, 2016
Update:
FBI had previously investigated Omar Mateen as ‘person of interest’ but had closed the case. Now saying deadliest single mass murder in history.
Update:
Rep. Bill Nelson just said that there were credible sources on intelligence committee staff indicating connection to ISIS. Not confirmed but credible sources. Rep. Peter King earlier said terrorist ‘had prior training’.
Update:
Obama to address nation at 1:30 pm. Fox now reporting that Mateen made a pledge of allegiance to ISIS.
Mateen is also reported to have had a Florida security officer license and a state firearms license. He has no connection to the NYPD, pics showing him wearing NYPD shirts are shirts that can be bought anywhere.
Update:
Obama time adjusted to 1:50. Fox also reporting Mateen yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during attack.
Update:
Obama statement:
-act of terror and act of hate
-ask full resources for investigation
-reached no definitive judgment on motivations of killer, we must spare no effort to find out motivation. What is clear is person full of hatred.
-this could have been any of our communities
-gratitude to police and first responders, kept carnage from being worse, it’s sacrifice LE makes every day
-especially horrible day for LGBTQ, it is also place of solidarity where people come to advocate for their civil rights. Every attack on any one is attack on all of us.
-person had handgun and powerful assault rifle (then starts on gun rant). “We have to have strength to change”, in face of hate and violence we must stand united.
So he blamed ‘hate’ suggesting anti-gay hate crime, but never mentioned Islamic terrorism once. Then again blamed guns. So classic Obama, ‘hatred’, said motivation wasn’t identifiable.
Update:
Fox just reported that ISIS media claimed responsibility for shooting.
Claim Mateen was a ‘soldier of the caliphate’.
Update:
FBI had interviewed Orlando shooting suspect, Omar Mateen, twice in recent years https://t.co/rVSzoSakq0 https://t.co/wiMIHqjznh
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 12, 2016
FBI press conference:
Previous contact they had with terrorist
2013 claims to coworkers of terrorism connection. Coworkers actually reported him, but FBI investigated, could not substantiate.
2014 contact with attempted suicide bomber. FBI did not find any danger.
Geraldo Rivera asking how did he get a statewide gun permit if he had connection. FBI said because investigation did not turn up any evidence of crime.
HT: Tmodem, Blue Sky