Summary

  • Forty-nine people killed in attack on gay nightclub - the worst mass shooting in recent US history

  • Suspect took hostages and died in gunfight with Swat officers

  • He is named as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, US national

  • Mateen investigated twice by FBI since 2013, but was not on active terrorism watch list

  • US President Obama says no evidence he was part of a larger plot

  1. 'No additional threat' to USpublished at 16:02

    Officials investigating the shooting say they are "confident" there are no additional threats to the US. 

    "We feel confident there are no immediate threats to the area or the United States of America," says FBI special agent Ronald Hopper.

  2. FBI call for witnessespublished at 16:01

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  3. 'There's blood everywhere' - Orlando mayorpublished at 15:59

    Describing the situation inside the Pulse nightclub, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says "there's blood everywhere". 

  4. Worst mass shooting in recent US historypublished at 15:49

    Orlando police chief John Mina describes the attack as a "tragedy not just for our city, but for the entire nation".

    He says officials will soon start identifying the victims and notifying next of kin.

    The new confirmed death toll - 50 casualties - makes it the worst mass shooting in recent US history.

    There will be another briefing in three hours.

    Orlando police officers seen outside Pulse nightclubImage source, Getty Images
  5. 'Many critically ill'published at 15:36 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Orlando surgeon Michael Cheatham says many of the wounded are critically ill as a result of their injuries.

    Six trauma surgeons have been brought in, he adds.

  6. '50 dead' - Orlando mayorpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 12 June 2016
    Breaking

    Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says 50 people have been killed and 53 injured.

  7. Suspect's identity confirmedpublished at 15:17
    Breaking

    US officials have now confirmed that the suspected attacker was Omar Mateen, a US citizen from Florida.

  8. Urgent need for blood donorspublished at 15:13

    The fire service of Orange County, where Orlando is located, has issued this appeal:

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  9. More information on suspected shooterpublished at 15:00

    CBS News has more information on the suspect. Police have yet to officially identify the suspect.

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  10. Press briefing pushed backpublished at 14:58

    An Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT member arrives at the scene of a fatal gun attack at Pulse Orlando nightclubImage source, AP

    Next media update is now expected at 10:15 local time (15:15 BST)

  11. Robot searching for possible booby trapspublished at 14:56

    An FBI bomb squad is on the scene with a robot searching for possible booby traps, a source tells the BBC.

  12. Orlando attack suspect 'identified'published at 14:45
    Breaking

    The man being investigated for the gun attack at the Orlando nightclub is 29-year-old Omar Mateen, the BBC understands.

    It is believed the US citizen was not on a terrorism watch list, though he was currently being investigated for a previous unrelated criminal act.

  13. Counselling being offeredpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    Local journalist Paul Brinkmann says counsellors are being called in to help all those affected by the attack in the Pulse nightclub, which describes itself as Orlando's premier gay nightspot.

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  14. Obama briefed on Orlando shootingpublished at 14:27

    The White House has just released a statement about the shooting in Orlando.

    It says President Barack Obama "was briefed this morning by Lisa Monaco, assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism".

    "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." 

  15. Families and relatives seeking newspublished at 14:19

    A police officer stands guard outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center hospitalImage source, AP
    Image caption,

    A police officer stands guard outside the ORMC hospital

    Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) has been treating many of the wounded and has set up a meeting area for those concerned about relatives.

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  16. '30 people saved'published at 14:00

    Police lock down Orange Avenue around Pulse nightclubImage source, Reuters

    During his news conference (see 12:27 entry), Orlando police chief John Mina also said that at least 30 people were saved during the rescue operation at the club. About 320 people were in the club when the shooting started.

    The next media briefing is planned for 09:30 local time (13:30 GMT), police say.

  17. 'We were lucky to walk away from this' - eyewitnesspublished at 13:49

    Eyewitness Anthony Torres has been writing about his experience on his Facebook page, external.

    He and his friends decided to leave Pulse nightclub just before the shooting started.

    Mr Torres has also posted some videos from outside the venue.

    Quote Message

    Shots fired Pulse Orlando... made it out just barely as we started to hear fire being shot !! People are screaming that people are dead !! Crazy...

    Quote Message

    They are just pulling people out in stretchers loading them up.. Omg please god let everyone make it - tonight was supposed to be a fun night!! One more minute and we would of been shot or worse..

    Quote Message

    We were sitting in the VIP section right by the entrance.. We decided to get up and leave ... Not even a few seconds later is when it all started.. People where screaming and running looking for their loved ones along with seeing injured people sitting on the floor .. It was so surreal .. it seemed fake... This had to be planned...

    Quote Message

    We were lucky to walk away from this, but my condolences to the friends and family who lost their loved ones tonight and for everyone that has been injured tonight; i'm praying for you all..

  18. Witnesses head to Orlando police HQpublished at 13:38

    Witnesses have heeded a call from the Orlando Police and are gathering at its headquarters to provide information. Some are being dropped off by bus.

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  19. What we knowpublished at 13:06

    Police cars surround the Pulse Orlando nightclubImage source, AP
    • About 20 people are dead and 42 wounded after a gunman opened fire on revellers at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, at 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT)
    • A police officer inside the club returned fire, the gunman then took hostages but was later killed when a SWAT team stormed the club at about 05:00 local time
    • The gunman was wearing "some type of device", police chief John Mina said. Earlier reports suggested he had been wearing a suicide vest
    • The FBI says the mass shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism
    • There are "suggestions" the gunman had "leanings towards" radical Islamist ideology, the FBI says
  20. Where it happenedpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 12 June 2016

    The Pulse nightclub, where the shooting took place, is located in the centre of Orlando.

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