Obama says no signs Orlando shooter was part of larger plot

Authorities have not said whether Mateen was directed by the Islamic State or simply acted in sympathy with the extremist group in a so-called lone wolf attack.

Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey said Mateen had “strong indications of radicalisation” and was probably inspired by foreign terrorist organisations. “Those people who lost their loved ones”. The youngest person among those who have been named was Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20.

As for why his son opened fire into Pulse nightclub, he said at a press conference in his Port St. Lucie home Monday that he didn’t know. After the shootings on Sunday, there have been reports that Omar had called 911 and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State right before initiating what was to be the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States.

The previous deadliest mass shooting in the USA was the 2007 attack at Virginia Tech, where a student killed 32 people before killing himself.

In a news conference Monday, U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said they were still collecting electronic and physical evidence.

Obama said the shooter’s exact intentions are still unclear, but the fact that he targeted a gay nightclub was “relevant” to the investigation.

Here is how the USA media covered the Orlando shooting.

The Washington Post is reporting that it seems that Salman had also left Mateen in the weeks leading up to the terrorist attack because he had become increasingly religious. “We have to some soul searching”, Obama said. “But we also have to make sure that it is not easy for somebody who decides they want to harm people in this country to be able to obtain weapons”.

“The last she remembers of Mr. Mateen is that he grabbed her arm to stop her from getting into the vehicle and leaving him forever”, according to the New York Times.

Omar Mateen may not have been a stranger to Pulse nightclub. Hopper said agents first investigated Mateen after he made inflammatory comments to co-workers alleging possible ties to terrorists.

Mayor Buddy Dyer said all of the dead were killed with the assault rifle.

Survivors told horrific stories of the shooting, which began around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Orlando police chief John Mina said the raid “saved many, many lives”. At about 5am, authorities sent in a SWAT team to rescue the remaining club-goers.

Flags over State Capitol & buildings to fly @ half-staff thru sunset 6/16 in memory of victims of violent attack in Orlando. Police said via Twitter that a noise heard near the shooting site was a “controlled explosion”. Police received updates from patrons trapped in the club, and chose to storm the club at about 5 a.m. ET.

Saturday night’s “upscale Latin night” at Pulse may have drawn a higher percentage of non-LGBT attendees than normal, several local people said. However, they “noticed the more thorough checking of bags” and security guards having more of a presence when entering the park on Sunday.

“I’ve known him since ninth grade”, Anderson said. But many unanswered questions remain, and while we can’t truly answer them all, USA TODAY Network wanted to acknowledge those questions and share what we know.

Mateen had also expressed support in recent years for both al Qaida and its enemy Hezbollah, Mr Comey said.