At least 50 people are dead and more than 53 others are wounded after a suspected terrorist opened fire and took hostages at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday morning, police said.
Orlando police said a hostage situation developed after the gunman, who was identified by several law enforcement sources as Omar Mateen,
stormed the Pulse Nightclub about 2 a.m. Police added that at least 30 hostages were rescued from the club.
Pulse nightclub shooting: To recap media briefing – 50 are dead. Additional 53 have been taken to local hospitals. pic.twitter.com/8QRzuoL4wD
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016
Staff at the venue posted on Facebook: “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running” and there were reports on social media of an ongoing attack.
Police confirmed the gunman was armed with an assault rifle, handgun and “some kind of device”. The shooting is being treated as an “act of domestic terrorism.”
In a press conference on Sunday morning, an FBI spokesman said investigators believed the attacker may have had extremist beliefs, and would consider possible links to Isis, but cautioned they were pursuing multiple leads.
“It was tragic,” club-goer Christopher Hansen said. “I wasn’t sure if it was the music, because … it went with the beat almost until you heard just too many shots.”
“It was just like — bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang — and that’s when you just know chaos is just, it was in turmoil,” he added.
NBC News reports:
“The next text said: ‘He has us, and he’s in here with us,'” she told The Associated Press. “That was the last conversation.”
Witness Anthony Torres posted to Facebook that he and his friends made it out of the club “just barely as we started to hear fire being shot.”
“They are just pulling people out in stretchers loading them up,” he said, referring to first responders. “Omg please god let everyone make it.”
“People are screaming that people are dead,” Torres wrote in another post.
Like my stomach is CHURNING!! I just need to know my friends are good. 3 friends were definitely at #PulseOrlando tonight ??
— Bellatrix (@Glorious_Court) June 12, 2016
The shooting at the nightclub comes during a series of national celebrations that mark LGBT pride month.
“As soon as we have any information we will update everyone,” the club later posted to Facebook. “Please keep everyone in your prayers as we work through this tragic event. Thank you for your thoughts and love.”
County fire officials say Orlando has a “urgent need” for blood donations following mass shooting:
Blood, especially type O is in large demand in #Orlando please donate if you can today. #PrayForOrlando #Pulse #IAFF @IAFFNewsDesk
— O.C. Fire Fighters (@Local2057IAFF) June 12, 2016
Urgent Need for O Negative, O Positive and AB Plasma Blood Donors After Mass Shooting #Orlando #PrayForOrlando @my1blood #Pulse
— O.C. Fire Fighters (@Local2057IAFF) June 12, 2016
Equality Florida, Florida’s largest organization dedicated to securing justice for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the victims and families of the horrific shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. Please donate if you are able. Click here for more information.
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