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All you need to know about the Orlando nightclub shooting and gunman Omar Mateen

Here is a brief overview of the ghastly June 12 shootings in Orlando, Florida , considered an act of terror act and a hate crime

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Police officials outside the nightclub where the shooting took place. Image Credit: Twitter
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A gunman identified as Omar Mateen, opened fire at a gay nightclub 'Pulse' in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, June 12. 50 people were killed and 53 injured before the police finally gunned down Mateen in a shootout after breaking into the nightclub with armoured cars.

# This is the worst mass shooting incident in the United States, much graver than the 2007 Virgina Tech rampage that left 32 people dead.  

# The shooter Omar S Mateen, 29, was a US citizen born to Afghan parents, residing at Port St. Lucie, Florida.



An undated photo from a social media account of Omar Mateen (Credit: Reuters)

# Omar had an associate’s degree in criminal justice and was working as an armed security guard. Global Security firm G4S, where Mateen worked since 2007, said that no red flags popped up during the pre-joining background check or the company screening conducted as recently as 2013.

# He had a three-old son from a previous marriage to Sitora Yusufiy, who went on record to say that her ex-husband was mentally ill and aggressive, beating her repeatedly when they were married. She said she had to be rescued by family members after a stormy 4-month marriage that ended in divorce.

# His father Seddique Mateen was the host of an occasional television show on a US-based Afghan satellite channel for about three years, and regularly broadcast views heavily critical of Pakistan, ISI and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.



Seddique Mateen, Omar Mateen's father (Credit: Heavy.com)

# Omar had no criminal record, although he had been previously questioned by the FBI in 2013 and 2014, following comments to co-workers indicating support for militant groups. Neither interview turned up any evidence of criminal activity, and there was no pending investigation involving Mateen

# Amaq, an IS-linked news agency, reported that ‘A fighter from the Islamic State group carried out today's mass shooting inside a gay club in Orlando, Florida’ on June 12. Mateen allegedly called 911 before the shooting and swore allegiance to Islamic State, NBC News said on Twitter. But US agencies have cautioned that links with Islamic extremist groups are still being investigated, and nothing is conclusive as yet.

# Omar had purchased a handgun and AR-15 semi-automatic rifle just a week ago, according to initial reports.

# Mateen’s father Seddique has described an incident where Mateen was angered by the sight of two men kissing in Miami a couple of months ago, indicating a possible hate crime.   

# The imam at the mosque Mateen attended for nearly 10 years, Syed Shafeeq Rahman, remembered him as a soft-spoken and regular worshipper who didn’t have many friends. He also said that Mateen never approached him regarding any concerns about homosexuals.

# A school mate of his, Samuel King, said that Mateen never expressed any anti-gay sentiments. King, who is openly gay, said that the Mateen he knew until 2009 did not appear to be anti-gay.

# US President Barack Obama called the Orlando massacre 'an act of terror and an act of hate', in an address from the White House on Sunday.” He said it was ‘an especially heartbreaking day for all our friends - our fellow Americans - who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.’



US President Barack Obama (Credit: Reuters)

# Democratic senator and presumptive Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton also expressed solidarity with the LGBT community, saying that they had millions of allies and she was one of them. She called on the nation to redouble efforts to stop attacks similar to this ‘act of terror’.



Hillary Clinton (Credit: AFP)

# US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he was right about "radical Islamic terrorism."



Donald Trump (Credit: AFP)

He posted this on Twitter: 

 

# On June 13, barely hours after the Orlando shooting, police in Santa Monica, California found weapons, ammunition and bomb-making material in a car belonging to a man who told them he was planning to attend the annual Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles.  


Police investigate a car in Santa Monica, California on June 12, 2016 believed to belong to a man who was arrested for reportedly having weapons, ammunition, and possible explosives and reportedly headed to the Gay Pride parade in Los Angeles  (Credit: AFP)

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