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Orlando shooting: Barack Obama meets victims and pleads for unity

  • America is in mourning after the worst mass shooting in its history
  • Omar Mateen's attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead
  • So-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack
  • President Obama says there is no clear evidence the gunman was directed by IS
  • Witnesses have claimed that Mateen was a regular visitor to the club he attacked
  • His wife said she tried to talk him out of conducting any kind of attack
  • His father has blamed security at the club for the attack
  • One gun shop refused to sell him ammunition as he was acting suspiciously

Follow the latest updates on ITV News.

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Islamic State claim responsibility for Orlando massacre

At least 50 people were killed in a shooting at the Pulse club in Orlando. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Kolczynski

The so-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, but US officials said they had seen no immediate evidence linking the militant group to the worst mass shooting in America's history.

The claim from IS was carried by Amaq, the organisation's news agency.

The armed attack that targeted a gay night club in the city of Orlando in American state of Florida which left over 100 people dead or injured was carried out by an Islamic State fighter.

– IS statement via Amaq

The suspected shooter was identified by authorities as 29-year-old Omar Mateen.

Two US officials familiar with the investigation said that no evidence had yet been found showing a direct link between the massacre and IS or any other militant group.

The officials told Reuters news agency that they also had yet to see any direct contacts between any extremist group and the suspect.

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Orlando shooting: Barack Obama meets victims and pleads for unity

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