![\"_89952443_e5f852cb-6df4-43ee-b4b4-533c4aa5d4db\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/89952443_e5f852cb-6df4-43ee-b4b4-533c4aa5d4db.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAt least 20 people have been killed and some 42 injured in a shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, police say.<\/p>\n
Orlando Police said officers entered the Pulse Club about three hours after the shooting unfolded – and killed the gunman, who had taken hostages.<\/p>\n
They called it an act of terrorism, but said they did not yet know if it was domestic or international.
\nRelatives have been gathering at local hospitals desperate for news.<\/p>\n
Many had received calls and texts from loved ones inside the club as the siege began, and some have heard nothing since.<\/p>\n
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the attack began at 02:00 (06:00 GMT). There was an exchange of fire with a police officer working at the club, but it is unclear whether that was inside or outside the venue.<\/p>\n
After this a “hostage situation” unfolded, he said.<\/p>\n
Chief Mina said a decision was taken at 05:00 to send a police assault team into the club after receiving texts and phone calls from some of the hostages.<\/p>\n
“Our SWAT officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, the suspect is dead,” he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“He appeared to be carrying an assault-type rifle and a handgun, and had some type of device on him.”<\/p>\n
An FBI spokesman said they were investigating whether the attacker was a “lone wolf”. He said the attacker appeared to “have leanings towards” radical Islamist ideology but it was not yet clear whether this was a case of domestic or international terrorism.<\/p>\n
At least 20 bodies have been found in the club itself, and some 42 people have been taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries, Chief Mina said.<\/p>\n
A clubber earlier described a situation of chaos outside as the number of casualties became apparent.<\/p>\n
“There were just bodies everywhere,” Christopher Hansen said. “In the parking lot, they were tagging them – red, yellow – so they knew who to help first and who not help first. Pants down, shirts cut off, they had to find the bullets. Just blood everywhere.”<\/p>\n
Some of the injured were reportedly brought to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in police pick-ups.
\nMore than 100 people were reported to have been enjoying the end of a Latin-themed night in the club, which calls itself the hottest gay bar in the city, when the attack began.<\/p>\n
“We heard rapid fire go off. In the room I was in, people went down to the floor. I wasn’t able to see the shooter or people get hurt,” Ricardo Negron Almodovar told BBC News.<\/p>\n
“At some point, there was a brief pause, and a group of us got up and went to the exit that leads to the patio area outside. We found an exit and after that… I just ran.”<\/p>\n
According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, the US last year suffered 372 mass shootings, defined as a single incident that kills or injures four or more people. Some 475 people were killed and 1,870 wounded.<\/p>\n
The latest incident came as Orlando was still reeling from the fatal shooting on Friday night of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie following a concert in the city.<\/p>\n
She had been signing autographs when she was shot by 26-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who then killed himself. It is not clear what Loibl’s motive was.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At least 20 people have been killed and some 42 injured in a shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, police say. Orlando Police said officers entered the Pulse Club about three hours after the shooting unfolded – and killed the gunman, who had taken hostages. They called it an act of terrorism, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":221792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n