Orlando, United States: A gunman killed 50 people and injured 53 in a crowded gay nightclub in the tourist hub of Orlando, Florida, early on Sunday before being shot dead by police, authorities said, in what appeared the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
The shooter was identified as Omar S. Mateen, a man that a senior FBI official said might have had leanings towards Islamic State militants. Officials described the attack as a “terrorism incident” though cautioned that the suspected Islamist connection required further investigation.
Here is what we know so far:
Who was the gunman?
Law enforcement identified the gunman, who died in a shootout with police, as Omar Mateen, 29. A US citizen, Mateen was born to Afghan parents living in New York and resided in Port St Lucie, Florida, about two hours' drive from Orlando.
The FBI said Mateen had previously been investigated and cleared by the agency for suspected ties to an American suicide bomber and after making inflammatory terror-related comments to coworkers. But Mateen apparently made a 911 call pledging allegiance to ISIS before Sunday's massacre.
Law enforcement recovered a handgun, an AR-15 assault rifle and an unknown number of additional rounds from the suspect. Mateen sprayed the club with bullets and took hostages in a three-hour standoff that ended when authorities stormed the venue.
What was his target?
Pulse is a popular club known on the Orlando LGBT party scene for its drag shows. It is not known exactly how many people were inside at the time of the attack, but it was packed with Saturday night revelers who came to watch a drag queen contest.
The nightclub was co-founded by a woman whose brother died in 1991 after battling HIV, and called itself more than just another gay club. In 2004, Barbara Poma and a friend opened the club to keep her brother's spirit alive, and named it in honor of his heartbeat.
It has become a flagship establishment for the LGBT community in Florida and further afield and forms part of a vibrant activist scene that aims to promote awareness of gay rights.
What was his motive?
US President Barack Obama called the massacre an act of terror and an act of hate. The suspect's father told NBC News his son may have been motivated by homophobia and not by his Muslim faith.
Seddique recalled a recent incident in downtown Miami when his son became angry after witnessing a gay couple embracing. The suspect's ex-wife, who divorced him in 2011, told the Washington Post he had been violently abusive to her and was not especially religious.
The Pulse attack coincided with gay pride month in the United States, with festive marches and events being held all over the country including in Orlando last week.
Who are the victims?
Authorities aren't publicly identifying victims until their families have been notified. As of Sunday evening, seven names have been released. All were men, ranging in age from 20 to 36.
Pulse was hosting a Latin-themed party at the time of the shooting. Based on their names, all of the victims identified appeared to be of Hispanic heritage.
Other threats?
On Sunday, police in the Los Angeles area arrested a man who said he wanted to harm the city's Gay Pride parade and was found with multiple weapons, ammunition and bomb-making materials in his car. However, there was no known connection between 20-year-old James Howell and Mateen, authorities said.
