12/06/2016 World News Today

This is BBC world News. He the headlines: The deadliest mass

shooting in US history. 50 people are dead after a gunman opens fire

in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Resident Obama calls the

attack and act of terror. We do not know what connection he may have had

with terrorist groups but what is clear is that he was filled with

hatred. The shooter is identified as Omar Mateen who is believed to have

sworn allegiance to Islamic State before carrying out the attic. I am

Laura Becker live at the scene where we have head by the effort the item

the killer may have been ideological age motivated.

President Obama has described it as an act of hate, the cooling of 50

people in a gun attack on a crowded gay nightclub in Florida. It is the

deadliest bass shooting in US history. The gunmen opened fire at

the nightclub at around 2am local time. He then held hostages for

three hours before the police stormed the building. He is a US

citizen of Afghan descent. He is said to have guided allegiance to

Islamic State before the attack. The flag is being flown at half-mast in

Washington as a mark of respect for the victims.

The shooter was investigated in 2013 after he made comments to colleagues

but in 2014 was back on the radar of the F guy again after he had contact

with a suicide bomber. The contacts were deemed to have been minimal and

then in the last two Daisy bought two weapons and then went into the

pulse nightclub in Orlando and killed 50 people. Some 50 more are

still in hospital. Laura Becker is live for us in Orlando. What is the

latest from here? David shock, outrage and fear but also unity.

This is a community that just around about me are trying to come

together. Trying to find some way to understand what happened here. This

was a very popular nightclub where hundreds came to try and enjoy the

evening. It ended in tragedy. He lives what we know about the events

that happened last night so far. The shocking sound of rapid fire

echoed through the streets recorded by witnesses who feared the worst.

Dozens managed to flee the popular gay nightclub but still worried

about those they left behind. I had no choice but to help the

people that were short. One mother got a text from her son pleading for

help as he was trapped inside. He told her he loved her and feared he

would die. Others were distraught, just desperate for news. I don't

know where my son is, no one can know where my son is, no one can

tell me where my son is, no one knows. The cloud media are

fatalities. -- they told me there after cavities. -- vitality is.

Police say he had some sort of explosive device. So what teens

rescued 30 people but inside find a scene of utter devastation. Just to

look into the eyes of our officers told the whole story. You could tell

they were all shaken by this incident, by what they saw inside

the club. He did and I'm believable the club. He did and I'm believable

job, courageous efforts in rescuing many, many hostages. This is now

being investigated as an act of terror. The suspect has been

identified as Omar Mateen, the FBI says it is trying to establish if he

had links to Islamic groups. Though it is still early in the litigation

we know enough to say this is an act of terror and an act of heat. As

Americans we are united in grief. In outrage and in resolve to defend our

people. This is the deadliest mass shooting in American history at our

place young people came to party. A state of emergency has now been

declared in our land as the investigation continues the lease

are urging calm until they know more and are clear about a motive. We

have just had an update from the FBI within the last hour and as you

said, we understand that the attacker had been investigated on

two occasions, once in 2013 and once in 2014. It has also been confirmed

that he did call 911 before the attack and clear his allegiance to

the Islamic State. We also understand that the Islamic State or

a group linked to the Islamic State have, on social media, claimed some

kind of responsibility for this attack. However, he at the scene I

have just spoken to the representative for the Council for

Islamic American relations and what he told me was this was not anything

to do with his religion. He said this was a crime against humanity

and he urged everyone to stand together on this and come together.

In fact, they have been raising money for families of the victims

and he said that fund is running at tens of thousands already even

though it has just been set up in the last couple of hours. This is a

community really trying to come to terms with what has happened here

within the last few hours and we do know we are beginning to hear some

of the first details of the victims themselves. Laura the down for us in

Orlando. President Obama addressed the American public today in a

sombre concise address in which he talked about the Vic rooms. He said

that an attack on one American was an attack on all Americans and, of

course, this is a country in shock because of what happened, 50 people

killed there in Orlando. One who saw what was going on was Nick Ornstein

who joins us live on the phone from Orlando. I understand you witnessed

what was happening and you went to the window and saw what was going

on? I heard the sound of the gunfire about two o'clock when the first

shot was fired. I went to the window to see if I could see anything and

that is when I saw people running from the club, trying to get away.

Nick, how long were you watching for? Obviously this attack went on

for a sustained period of time, where you watching for a while? Yes,

for the whole thing we were basically up there just watching

what was going on. We weren't permitted to leave the apartment

until just a couple of hours ago when they finally got the scene a

bit more under control. So after you heard the gunshots what happened

then? You're ready a lot of security vehicles arrived at the club? Yes,

there must have been 70 or 80 top cars blocking the streets trying to

secure and help everybody out. With that the ambulances and first

responding vehicles had a difficult time getting in through the work

picking up the dead and transporting them to the medical centre just the

few blocks away. The gunman presumably was inside the nightclubs

or I'm assuming you did not see him, did you? Now, I did not. I heard

police addressing him over a loudspeaker a few times that I

couldn't make out what they were saying or anything of that nature.

If you see the police filing? No, I didn't. I was able to record a video

where you could view the exchange of gunfire between the lease and the

sugar but you could... There was no sugar but you could... There was no

clear view with the way the club is set up. At what point did it become

clear to you that this is a serious incident? There wasn't a lot of

information while everything was going on, we were kind of kept in

the dark a little bit. The amount of responders clued you in there was

something very serious going on but I never realised the gravity until

the numbers started coming out, 20, then 250 and it seemed to have

stopped around that number. Did you see some of the injured coming out

of the club, could you see that from where you wear? Yes, there were

people with less serious injuries, injuries to appendages like arms and

legs and things like that as well as people with injuries to their

chests, abdomen, they were carted away with priority over ones with

more simple wounds. To be clear, we argue now? I am actually heading

back to my home in Atlanta from Orlando. I just finally got to leave

the apartment not too long ago. And what was it like as you left? It is

still a heavy police presence. They have crime scene technicians with

tents set up the idea that are working nonstop to try to rob at the

scene it will be a few days before it is all they in care of. Nick,

thank you for joining us, that must have been a terrifying night for you

watching what was unfolding. President Obama has addressed the

American public about the attack he talked about the need to find the

motive and said there was no definitive judgment yet he also

the country being an attack on all the country being an attack on all

Americans and, of course, sent his sympathy and clears to the victims

and the victims families. Here is president Obama. Today as Americans

we believe the brutal murder, the horrific massacre of thousands of

American people. We pray for the families who are grasping for

answers with broken hearts. We stand with the people of Orlando

who have ensured a terrible attack. Although it is still early

in the investigation, we know enough to say this

was an act of terror As Americans, we are united

in grief, in outrage and in resolve I've just finished a meeting

with the FBI director and my The FBI is on the scene and leading

the investigation in partnership The full resources of the federal

government will be made available We have reached no definitive

judgment on the precise The FBI is appropriately

investigating this as an act of terrorism and I've directed

that we must spare no effort to determine what, if any,

inspiration or association this killer might have had

with terrorist groups. What is clear is that he was

a person filled with hatred. Over the coming days we will uncover

why and how this happened and we will go wherever

the facts lead us. This morning I spoke

with my good friend, the Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer,

and I conveyed to him the deepest This could have been any one

of our communities so I told him that whatever help

he and the people of Orlando need, As a country, we will be

there for the people of Orlando today, tomorrow and for

all the days to come. We also express our profound

gratitude to all the police and first responders

who rushed into harm's way. Their courage and professionalism

saved lives and kept the carnage It is the kind of sacrifice

that our law enforcement professionals make every single day

for all of us and we can This is an especially heartbreaking

day for all of our friends, our fellow Americans,

who are lesbian, gay, The shooter targeted

a nightclub where people came together to be with friends,

to dance and sing and to live. The place they were attacked

is more than a nightclub, it is a place of solidarity

and empowerment where people have come together to raise awareness,

to speak their minds and to advocate This is a sobering reminder that

attacks on any American, regardless of race, ethnicity,

religion or sexual orientation, is an attack on all of us,

and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define

us as a country. No act of hate or terror

will ever change the values Today marks the most deadly shooting

in American history. As a pattern with a handgun and powerful assault

rifle. This is a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get

their hands on a weapon that lets them should be put in a school or

house of worship or movie theatre or a nightclub.

We have to decide if that is the kind of country we want to be,

and to actively do nothing is a decision as well.

In the coming hours and days, we will learn about the victims

Their names, their faces, who they were, joy they brought

The difference that they made in this world.

May God give them the strength to bear the unbearable.

May he give us all the strength to be there for them

and the strength and courage to change.

We need to demonstrate that we are defined more

as a country by the way they lived their lives

than by the hate of the man who took them from us.

As we go together, we will draw inspiration from heroic and selfless

acts, friends who helped friends, took care of each other

In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another.

We will not give in to fear or turn against each other, instead

we will stand united as Americans to protect their people

and defend our nation and take action against

May God bless the Americans lost this one out,

they comfort their families, may God continue to watch over

President Obama speaking earlier. We are learning more details about this

suspect, all the time the FBI saying he was on their radar twice in the

past and yet was still legally able to buy firearms? Yes, that was

interesting as a press conference the extra year I just gave the said

twice he came on their radar, once in 2013 and once in 2014 and in the

last couple of days he managed to buy two weapons. The FBI official

was questioned about that by a member of the press repeatedly and

the FBI's response was the investigation on both stages was

closed and he was not under current civilians and George question about

why and how he was able to buy those firearms. He was pointedly asked,

you had someone on your radar who had been investigated as possible

links to Islamic jihad, how was he able to buy those weapons? I think

that's the question a lot of Americans will be asking only next

couple of days. A lot of solidarity also being shown to the key and

lesbian community in Orlando, Florida. One hashtag on Twitter is

hashtag and love is love with the heart of the LGBT colours. How are

they responding to these awful attacks? I just put to edge over the

love -- haven't imposed's clear of boys and editable as McDonald got

these as we have to make sure the focus is on the hate crime against

the LGBT community and not be distracted by Islamic jihad this was

really an attack and he says he feels this a lot in America, even

though the US Supreme Court has recently legalised gay marriage, he

says the backlash is being felt by members of the data unity and whilst

the scale of this attack is the, he says the source of hatred did not

entirely surprised him. Just before we go, one thing I should point out

is Hillary Clinton in responding to this has now cancelled a campaign

event she was a double with President Obama, the first campaign

event ever going to walk together, these two, since President Obama

endorsed her last week. She has cancelled that college was scheduled

for Wednesday in Wisconsin. That will now not take place.

So what we know about the man believed to have carried out the

Orlando shootings? He has been identified as Omar

Mateen. But the FBI says he had no direct

link to any militant group. Earlier FBI special agent in charge,

Ron Hopper, gave more insight into Mateen's criminal history,

including possible The FBI first became aware of

Martinez 2013 when he made inflammatory comments the court

workers, alleging possible terrorist ties. The FBI thoroughly

investigated the matter including interviews of witnesses, physical

surveillance and records checks. In the course of the investigation, he

was interviewed twice. Ultimately we were unable to verify the substance

of his comments and the investigation was closed. In 2014,

he again came to the attention of the FBI because of possible ties to

Mona Abu Salah in -- are Americans was Obama. They conducted an

investigation including an interview with him and determined that contact

was minimal and did not constitute a subsidy of relationship or a threat

at that time. It has been reported that Mateen made calls to 911 this

morning in which he's dated his allegiance to the IS. We are looking

into any and all connections both domestic and international.

A news agency affiliated to so-called Islamic State group has

quoted IS as saying that one of its fighters carried

I asked our Security correspondent, Gordon Corera, about

A standard news agency, semi-official for so-called Islamic

State. Their message normally takes quite a high degree of credence and

they said a fighter linked to IS carried out the attack. So they are

claiming that they were involved in some way. What is not clear is

whether they are merely saying this because the individual affiliate

themselves. Mateen said he wanted to be part of IS or whether there was

actually a direct connection between the group and is individual. We

don't know if he had any direct contact with them or he was trained

or directed by them through any kind of communication or if this was an

individual who was a self starting, self radicalised and then declared

his allegiance and if you like, IS are now accepting that and taking

credit for what he has done in their name. Those are two different

possibilities and is not yet clear which one we're looking at. This is

completed investigation. President Obama saying this is an act of

terror and hit crime as well. How are authorities going about trying

to establish what the motivation was? I think motivation and

connections are the crucial issues. How far can they unravel this

individual cosmic motivations was a bad apples in dozens of media or

indications from whence is about what was most fitting him and are

there those connections to so-called IS. Is there any evidence on his

computers or his data trail and communications about linking to the

group and actually having a contact with them as opposed to perhaps just

following them and following their messages. Those are the kind of

things the authorities will be during using a mixture of

communications and intelligence, police and FBI interviewing

witnesses and the like. What you make of what the authorities have

been saying so far? I think they have been cautious to jump to any

conclusions beyond the fact this is clearly an act of terrorism in some

form but the exact nature and links of the individual are hard to be

sure about in the initial stages. We do seem to be getting more ports

that he called 911 during the attack to pledge allegiance, which do seem

to be pretty quickly shifting us towards a certain direction in terms

of his motivation. I think that will continue to be the way the forehead

investigate it, trying to establish a clear that is. Could this be an

opportunistic claim by Islamic State? It is possible. They had no

direct connection that is possible then direct connection with this

individual. They've never heard of him before and never contact all

communities with him anyway but because he has declared his

allegiance to them, if that is true, they have decided to take credit

because that is a strategy they pursue. If you look at the

leadership of IS, particularly at 90, the spokesperson, he called on

people to carry out attacks, doing during my to something... Wait for

an order. This is a way of working. They also if you look at the Paris

attacks, SNP but I did have highly organised attacks but they also

column B but carry out their attacks and just self-starter. -- but they

do also have highly. At the moment edging more towards is starting and

self direction but I don't think we can be sure of this and the

statement doesn't necessarily prove one way or the other. Thank you.

People who used to know the gunman said they were

He was outgoing, just like a regular young kids come was younger than me.

It is crazy. I don't know. How long ago did you meeting? A few years

ago. I haven't seen him for a few years. But this is crazy to year. Is

there any talk, did you ever feel like he didn't like gay people felt

that was something that offended him? Because there is talk of that?

No, not at all. We stand, lots of girls around. He was cool, calm and

collected, never angry and never seen him angry was my life. Love to

hang out and party with young kids are age. He was a normal teenager

and a normal life. He was never crazy. Never. When was the last time

use on him? Five years ago? Seven years ago?

The candidates running for the US presidency have been

Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump tweeted:

Hilary Clinton issued a statement of her Facebook page,

in which she said this was an act of terror but also an act of hate.

She said - To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions

We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly

Hate has absolutely no place in America.

Her fellow Democrat Bernie Sanders has also been speaking.

It's horrific, it's unthinkable and our hopes go out to all those

who were shot that they can recover, and 25 years ago I believed in this

country we should not be selling automatic weapons designed to kill

people, and we have to do everything we can to make sure guns do not fall

into the hands of people who should not have them, criminals,

people who are mentally ill, so that struggle continues.

want to bring you some pictures from Los Angeles. A gay pride parade is

taking place for these are live pictures. One of several gay pride

parades taking plays across the US. Some expressing solidarity for the

victims of the Orlando shootings and another one is taking place in

Philadelphia. No doubt a sombre mood at some of these parades. The

organisers of the parade event have issued a statement saying we are

heartbroken that so many of our brothers, sisters and allies were

last in this tragic attack. Organisers said the tragedy made

them all the more determined to continue with their plans. Police in

Southern California have arrested a man after finding explosives,

explosives, weapons and a camouflage jacket in his car.

The man who was stopped in Santa Monica, told

officials that he was heading for the Los Angeles Pride Festival.

Let's speak with our Los Angeles correspondent, Peter Bowes.

What more do we know about this suspect who was arrested? The police

were called when local people called them to report a man behaving

suspiciously in Santa Monica. This is about eight miles from where the

parade is taking place and when the police arrived he was questions and

his car was searched. This is when the authorities say they discovered

weapons and dangerous material. The local media here has gone further

than that and said rifles were found, assault rifles and

ingredients that could have been used to make a pipe bomb, the police

not confirming those civic details yet. Another investigation is

continuing and certainly the authorities are looking at that he

was heading to the parade to meet a friend. They also said at this stage

from what they know no connection is being made with the events of

Orlando, Florida. Even so, this will cause worry. We just said there are

gay pride parades taking place across the country. Any indication

of whether security will be increased? Yes, certainly in Los

Angeles the police are saying they're not aware of any specific

threats, however they stay out of an abundance of caution they have

enhanced their security presence for this particular event and have

tactical units at the ready to prevent and respond to any

circumstances, as you have seen to these pictures, the parade is well

underway and people are determined to show their solidarity with the

people of Orlando, carrying banners, posters with the words I am Pulse,

which was the daily nightclub and carrying banners simply saying West

Holyrood is with Orlando. It is difficult to tell. There are

lots of people on the streets in the pictures can see. Do you think

anybody would be deterred from attending these events because of

it must have crossed the minds of it must have crossed the minds of

some people. We will not know until the end of the day when figures on

attendance are released but certainly looking at the streets

they seem to be as bustling and lively as usual and I get the sense

that people wanted to make a statement, to come out on the

streets and shall that as bad as this parade is concerned life goes

on as normal. This is the annual celebration of LGBT rights and

people are determined to make that statement. Any comments and reaction

to the mass shootings in Orlando from early? -- Ellie, Peter Bowes,

are you still with me? -- Los Angeles. We are going to leave it

with Peter Bowes from Los Angeles at the moment. It Los Angeles city

commissioner, Patty Sheehan has delivered this statement on the half

of the LGBT community in the city. We are a people who love and if you

think you are going to stab at the heart of us by doing this horrible

violent act you are not because we love, we are a resilient people and

we are going to show you in the face of this that we are going to have

lined up mind those blood banks. We are going to show what the good

heart of humanity is not the bad, horrible part of it and you cannot

get your message across by cooling people. You're nothing but thugs and

murderers and we will show you we are a better community than this.

The Florida senator Marco Rubio has also been speaking about the Orlando

Sa shootings. He said Islamic terrorists need to know they will

not win. We know they are less heat in the world, we know some of it is

inspired by what ideology and we know we have been in conflict for

the very long time. They seek to intimidate hours and terrorise us

and they will not terrorise America or Floridians, we stand for and with

all Americans irrespective of the sexual orientation or party ideology

or where they live. We are all Americans. You are seeing a response

today and this will continue, this will make us stronger. They will not

win. Islamic terrorist need to know they will not win that America will

stand tall together and whatever differences we may have on whatever

issue we are all Americans and we stand here together united

confronting this threat that has confronting this threat that has

been a scourge to the world. My colleague has been speaking to one

the shooting happened. The shooting the shooting happened. The shooting

happened outside. We started hearing the noise of banging outside around

2am, after hours. It was after hours 2am, after hours. It was after hours

that is how he managed to get in. We heard a shooting back and forth with

the cop outside and the shooter. Once he got inside he was blocking

the exit and nobody could go to the exit either by jumping him or by

jumping the fence in the back. I could not get a good look at his

face or we had was loud banging on face or we had was loud banging on

the outside and the court was dying. There were 30 shots that we had and

after that the lights were off we could see anything. Just had blood

everywhere on our shirts, seen people on the floor and we jumped a

fence and once we were outside the cops were surrounding the whole

building. The helicopter was on top of the building. The cops wouldn't

let other people leave yet and it was not until Fyvie M in the morning

when the shooter finally got shot by the cops and people were still

inside hiding in the dressing rooms and everything. When you managed to

get out with your life what did you do, what were you told and how did

you get away from the scene? Ones who were outside, once we got away

from the scene we were surrounded by cops and they would not let us leave

because they wanted to question us and stuff and to see the

investigation about who the shooter is and everything but it was not

until Fyvie end that we finally left and the shooter was caught and

people were saved from the inside but he managed to kill the lot of

people while he was inside holding those people hostages and people

were hiding in the dressing rooms. Is this a relatively safe club? Have

they been any instances of violence in your time before? Though, never,

never, no. Give us a sense of when the violence started where you given

any warning was anything said or did you just use the sound of the

gunshots? Once we had the shooting at 2am we ran to the back and he was

in the front exit blocking everybody and people were trying to jump on

top of him or out of the back and that is when the lights went out and

everybody, there was blood everywhere and that is when

everybody was panicking. Another person in the nightclub was the

Ricardo al mod of who was there when the shooting began. He described

what happened when he was there. It was close to 2am,

it was their closing time and we heard rapid gunfire go off

and in the room I was in, I could not see a shooter

or people get hurt, I guess the shooter also shot

at the ceiling because you could feel the glass coming down

from the lamps. At some point there was a brief

pause and a group of us got up and went out the exit that leads

to the patio area and tried to find an exit and after that,

I can only speak for myself, I just ran with maybe a couple

of other people that I did not know, we ran out and got away

from the club. Everybody just went down

to the ground and we were I had someone over me and then that

person got up to run and I just followed,

I don't know who that person was, I was by myself, people

were screaming and in a brief moment where no shooting happening,

we went out the back door. I remember there was screaming

and people are scared, I could hear people

saying they were scared and other people saying,

let's run out, so we just ran out. It has two different rooms,

one very big which has the dance floor and it also

has an outdoor area, where some of us were able to go

out, because the bigger dance floor Well, I want to go back to our

reporter in Washington. Donald Trump has released a statement, and it he

said President Obama disgracefully refused to even see the words

radical Islam. He has asked for him to step down. Probably not unlike

Donald Trump but how will that good idea? I have two say I am surprised.

It is less than 24 hours and already this attack has got caught up in the

politics of the presidential campaign. Donald Trump releasing a

statement in which he said President Obama disgracefully of refused to

say the words radical Islam and for that reasonable he should step down.

He also said if Hillary Clinton cannot see the phrase radical Islam

she should get out of the race for the presidency. Mr Trump says he is

going to give an address tomorrow on national security issues and he will

talk about this further. He didn't reiterate, however, his proposal

from earlier that there should be a ban on all Muslims entering the

United States, he did not call for United States, he did not call for

that again but this is a very political statement. He said I am

going to make America stronger again. He talked about the terrorist

Omar Mateen being the son of a Taliban from Afghanistan. He talked

about how America admits 100,000 immigrants from the Middle East into

the country and how Hillary Clinton wants to increase that number and

won't keep America strong. I am going to be a president for all

Americans, I am going to protect and defend all Americans, we are going

to make America strong for everyone. In a blistering statement Donald

Trump blasting President Obama and Hillary Clinton particularly on the

issue of whether they will use the words radical Islam. Hillary Clinton

has said she will cancel a campaign appearance on Wednesday with

President Obama which was scheduled to be held in Wisconsin. She is now

going to cancel that. This attack now quickly getting caught up in the

politics of this bitter presidential election campaign. And, Katty one

Muslim activist group, the Council on Muslim American Islamic

relations, it has said we are second and heartbroken by this appalling

attack. If they're concerned within the Muslim community that there

might be revenge attacks? The resolve so concern in the Muslim

community here in America after an incident like this that they will

feel some kind of backlash. It is not easy being a Muslim always in

the United States. This is a fairly small part of the population, less

than 1% of the American population is Muslim and by and large America

has done a much better job than Europe in integrating Muslims into

the American community. Most Muslims who live here with think of

themselves as American first and Muslims second. In some ways the

United States has been a role model for what European countries would

like to do in terms of integrating the Muslim populations into the

fabric of the country but every time there as an attack like this and

American Muslims I know, and I spoke to one just this morning, will say I

wish this had not been a Muslim, it is so hard being Muslim in America,

we do feel that stigma, we do feel that prejudice and of course, he

said to me, we can then decide right. But ever since the attacks of

911 the new Muslim in America is not necessarily an easy thing to be. How

is the news sinking in the? The death toll at about six or seven

hours ago was 20, Pedro draws quite significantly to 50 making this the

worst mass shooting in modern American history, what has been the

reaction? Everyone here is stunned as you might expect. The biggest

attack on American soil, the biggest shooting like this, biggest shooting

incident, the second-biggest was one that I covered a good ten years ago

now at Virginia Tech University in Virginia, 32 people were killed in

that and then there was the sandy massacre as well. There are two

forces that are clear in America today. The is there about radical

Islamic terrorism and the is this me that this man who had been

investigated was able to get access to weapons so easily. You heard

President Obama say in his address to the nation this is a reminder of

how easy it is for people to get a gun and shoot people and he referred

to other shooting incidents, in a cinema, any school and now in a

nightclub as well so you will hear it a lot over the next few days as

he had from Donald Trump, even syphilis attacks against Islamic

radical terrorism and how America is not safe and you will also hear

perhaps from more liberal parts of the community say-macro- this is

also about gun control. That is not an argument I think Donald Trump

will want to make or have much time for what the Iraqi two separate

forces in America and we will hear a lot of argument from them over the

next few days. Thank you very much now Katty was talking about the

address from President Obama and year is what else he had to say.

Today as Americans we grieve the brutal murder, the horrific massacre

of dozens of innocent people. We pray for the families who are

grasping for answers with broken hearts.

We stand with the people of Orlando who have ensured a terrible attack.

Although it is still early in the investigation,

we know enough to say this was an act of terror

As Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage and in resolve

I've just finished a meeting with the FBI director and my

The FBI is on the scene and leading the investigation in partnership

The full resources of the federal government will be made available

We have reached no definitive judgment on the precise

The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act

of terrorism and I've directed that we must spare no effort

to determine what, if any, inspiration or association this

killer might have had with terrorist groups.

What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred.

Over the coming days we will uncover why and how this happened

and we will go wherever the facts lead us.

This morning I spoke with my good friend,

the Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and I conveyed to him the deepest

This could have been any one of our communities so I told

him that whatever help he and the people of Orlando need,

As a country, we will be there for the people of Orlando

today, tomorrow and for all the days to come.

We also express our profound gratitude to all the police

and first responders who rushed into harm's way.

Their courage and professionalism saved lives and kept the carnage

It is the kind of sacrifice that our law enforcement

professionals make every single day for all of us and we can

This is an especially heartbreaking day for all of our friends,

our fellow Americans, who are lesbian, gay,

The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came

together to be with friends, to dance and sing and to live.

The place they were attacked is more than a nightclub,

it is a place of solidarity and empowerment where people have

come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds and to advocate

This is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American,

regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation,

is an attack on all of us, and on the fundamental values

of equality and dignity that define us as a country.

No act of hate or terror will ever change the values

Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history.

The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a

This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy

it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot

people in a school or in a house of worship or a movie

We have to decide if that is the kind of country we want to be,

and to actively do nothing is a decision as well.

In the coming hours and days, we will learn about the victims

Their names, their faces, who they were, joy they brought

The difference that they made in this world.

May God give them the strength to bear the unbearable.

May he give us all the strength to be there for them

and the strength and courage to change.

We need to demonstrate that we are defined more

as a country by the way they lived their lives

than by the hate of the man who took them from us.

As we go together, we will draw inspiration from heroic and selfless

acts, friends who helped friends, took care of each other

In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another.

We will not give in to fear or turn against each other, instead

we will stand united as Americans to protect their people

and defend our nation and take action against

May God bless the Americans lost this one out,

they comfort their families, may God continue to watch over

in. Let's go back to Washington. President Obama speaking about the

suspect. From the FBI that he had been on their radar twice before.

Yes, this is interesting to mood had more details now that he suspect

from the FBI that he had beyond their radar in 2013 because he had

made what sounded like incendiary comments to co-workers, he was

investigated at that point and Marmite team then came back on the

FBI's radar in 2014 because he had contact with and Americans were

said,, with Abu Salah, that contact was deemed to be minimal and the

investigation was closed. The FBI defending themselves against this

notion that how could somebody who had been on their radar in

connection with Islamic terrorism be possibly allowed to buy two guns,

the FBI agent, all he had to say was the investigation was closed and he

wasn't under surveillance at this time. It is worth pointing out also

that the FBI are saying they do not have a second suspect that they are

looking for, they believe he was acting alone and they do not believe

there is any ongoing threat to the neighbourhood in Orlando. And the

president saying this was an act of terror and an act of hate. How will

the authorities establish what his motive was? They will now be going,

as we are speaking, the FBI will be looking through all of his

electronic surveillance, at his cellphone records, website he

visited, any kind of electronic communication he had. The FBI have

told us they are at the family's house and speaking to it,

interviewing and investigating the family to see if there was any clues

that could have been there, did anyone miss anything? This was

always the issue and did he have any contact with anywhere else that

either provided ongoing threat of could provide some kind of clue as

to whether he was working entirely alone or as Islamic State have said,

on so-called Islamic State, that he was a fight over them as they said

on their website. That could mean lots of different things, those are

the things the FBI are investigating. Thank you very much.

I will be capped Armenia is. 50 people have been killed at a

nightclub in Orlando. It is the worst mass shooting in modern US

history. Plenty more on the website and the life pages there for you.

Goodbye for now. -- alive page. This is BBC News. At least 50 people have