Islamic State claims responsibility for Orlando nightclub massacre
PUBLISHED Sun, June 12, 2016 - 2:33pm EDT
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens more in the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States. (more)
A brief notice from the ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq Agency said on Sunday evening Syria time that an Islamic State fighter had carried out the shooting attack. It provided no further details about the perpetrator.
Earlier, law enforcement officials identified the attacker as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, who called 911 during the attack to pledge allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Mateen himself is an American citizen who was born to parents from Afghanistan.
At least 50 people were killed and 53 others were opened when Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. President Barack Obama described the massacre as an "act of terrorism," the deadliest since the attacks on September 11, 2001.
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