Omar Mateen, Alleged Terrorist Who Attacked Orlando Club, Was Investigated by FBI

Family members wait for word from police after arriving down the street from a shooting involving multiple fatalities at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Police have identified the man who killed at least 50 people and wounded another 50 at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday morning. The incident has been described now as a “domestic terror incident” by authorities.

Omar Mateen, 29, was identified by officials, including U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, as the alleged gunman. He was born in New York, but his parents are originally from Afghanistan, ABC News reported.

The Daily Beast and TMZ published social media photos of Mateen.

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CBS News reported that FBI Agent Ron Hopper told reporters that Mateen might have leanings towards Islamic extremism.

Mateen—who was “on the radar” of U.S. officials for some time—was killed in a shootout with police and other armed forces at around 5 a.m. Sunday morning, local time. He was armed with an assault rifle, a handgun, and a “suspicious device,” said police.

CBS News initially identified Mateen, of Fort Pierce, Florida, who had no apparent criminal record.

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Photos of Mateen wearing NYPD shirts were also published online. An NYPD official told TMZ that he has no associated with the department, saying the shirts are unofficial and can be purchased at stores.

Mateen’s father, Mir Seddique, told NBC News that the incident “has nothing to do with religion.”

“We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident. We weren’t aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country,” Seddique told the broadcaster.

Law enforcement sources told the Daily Beast there is no immediate indication Mateen had direct connection with the Islamic State, or ISIS, terrorist group. This month, ISIS said online that followers should carry out attacks to mark the approach of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.

Rep. Alan Grayson noted the attack was “more likely than not ideologically motivated,” NBC reported.

“It’s no coincidence that the attack took place where it did and where it did,” he added. “It might be that we’ve seen the commission of an awful hate crime.”

Police said that while Mateen is a U.S. citizen, some of his family members are not. They haven’t confirmed if Mateen was Muslim, but several Muslim groups condemned the attack.

“We condemn this monstrous attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured. The Muslim community joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence,” stated Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Orlando Regional Coordinator Rasha Mubarak.

According to NBC, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the incident “could definitely be classified as domestic terrorism.”  

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Danny Banks told the broadcaster that authorities are investigating whether international terror groups were involved—or if the shooter was a “lone wolf” attacker.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Mateen allegedly exchanged gunfire with a cop working in the Pulse club at around 2 a.m. before he went inside and took hostages. There were more than 300 people at the club.

The nightclub went on Facebook when the shooting took place, calling on clubgoers to “get out and keep running.”

“This is an incident, as I see it, that we certainly classify as domestic terror incident,” Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.

“It’s just shocking,” clubgoer Christopher Hansen told CNN, and he said that gunshots were heard “just one after another after another. It could have lasted a whole song.”

The White House issued a statement about the matter: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims. The President asked to receive regular updates as the FBI, and other federal officials, work with the Orlando Police to gather more information, and directed that the federal government provide any assistance necessary to pursue the investigation and support the community.”

The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in American history. The second-worst mass murder took place in Bath, Michigan, in 1927 when a man bombed a school, killing 44 people.

News US 8:53 AM