A gunman killed 50 people and injured 53 in a crowded gay nightclub in the tourist hub of Orlando, Florida, early today (Sunday) before being shot dead by police, authorities said, in what appeared the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
As CNN reports, the shooter was identified as Omar S. Mateen, a man that a senior FBI official said might have had leanings toward Islamic State militants. Officials described the attack as a “terrorism incident” though cautioned that the suspected Islamist connection required further investigation.
The death toll given by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and police to reporters made the attack the deadliest single shooting incident in U.S. history, eclipsing the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech university, which left 32 dead.
A hostage situation quickly developed, and three hours later a squad of officers stormed the club and shot dead the gunman. It was unclear when the gunman shot the victims.
The FBI says it is still trying to pin down whether the mass shooting was a hate crime against gays or a terrorist act.
President Barack Obama has ordered the federal government to provide any assistance needed to Florida police investigating the shooting, the White House said in a statement.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
