Government was liaising up to late yesterday with US Florida authorities to ascertain if any T&T nationals were hurt or killed in the early morning shooting at Orlando gay club Pulse, where a suspected Isis sympathiser killed 50 people and injured 53 others. US President Barack Obama, in a nation-wide address, described it as the most deadly mass shooting in US history.
The shooter, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, born in New York of Afghan parents, was from Port St Lucie, Florida. He reportedly shot and injured 103 people between 2 am and 5.54 am yesterday before being killed by US police.
US authorities treating it as an act of domestic terrorism, described it as the deadliest terror attack on American soil since 9/11. They said Mateen had been on their radar as having suspected radical Islamic leanings. Isis yesterday claimed he was a “soldier of the caliphate.”
Mateen’s father told US media, Mateen had recently been outraged by the sight of men kissing in public places.
Obama, addressing countrymen yesterday, described the mass murder as an act of terror, “What is clear, he (Mateen) was a person filled with hate...this is an especially heartbreaking day for the (LGBT) community...the place where the shooting occurred was a place of solidarity and empowerment,” Obama noted.
The incident, which occurred in Florida’s third largest city— which has a significant T&T population— put a dark stain on Gay Pride month currently being observed by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. It’s also elicited shock and horror among T&T’s LGBT community.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, who was in touch with T&T’s consul general in Miami from early yesterday, said at 4 pm: “Government via T&T’s consul general in Florida is in immediate and constant touch with Orlando police, still in the process of identifying persons and going through material in this tragic crime. Our people on the ground are also in touch to ascertain whether our citizens or family members were hurt in this tragedy; we should have a clearer picture by later tonight.
“On behalf of Government I can only condemn persons who mounted this attack and offer prayers and sympathy for the victims and their families who have this Sunday, awakened to the tragic news of such a savage incident — we are ever vigilant.”
Al-Rawi briefed Prime Minister Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon on the situation.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert acting for Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses, said he hadn’t received word regarding nationals who may have been affected, but the matter was being checked. He expected word last night.
A list published by the city of Orlando up to 6 pm yesterday had six names of persons ages 36 to 22 of apparently Spanish descent but no confirmation of T&T nationals.
Opposition urges vigilance
Opposition MP Ramona Ramdial, condemning the attack as heinous, added, “We need to respect all individuals whatever their choices. Only with proper legislation can we have security and safety for all. T&T is known for copycatting, we don’t want to see this (Orlando) take place anywhere.
The killings have raised the question of the easy availability of weapons.”
Opposition MP David Lee also urged citizens to be vigilant against acts of terrorism and criminal activities that threaten local security, “It’s important that we all be our brother’s keepers.”
US reports detailed the situation unfolded at Pulse at 2.02 am yesterday when over 300 were in the club. Shots were exchanged between Mateen and an officer working at the club. Pulse’s Facebook page then warned persons to “get out of the club and keep running.”
SWAT teams later used an armoured vehicle to ram the building, eventually cornering Marteen ,who’d retreated inside the club where he took people hostage. He was killed around 5 am in gunfire exchange.
Up to 10 am yesterday, US media reported bodies were still inside the club. Some injured were reported as critical. Surgeons projected the death toll might rise.
Marteen, a trained private security guard was armed with an AR-15 rifle and handgun. He’d been interviewed by the FBI over the last two years. Authorities reported he called 911 during the incident, expressing support for Isis and the Tsarnaev Boston bombers.
Isis-aligned Amaq news agency yesterday published an Isis message that Mateen was a “soldier of the caliphate”. Last month, Isis urged European and US sympathisers to attack civilians on homeground if they were unable to travel to Syria and Iraq.