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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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Orlando suspect's father: 'He didn't like LGBT community'

FBI are treating the massacre as a terrorist act Credit: Reuters

A alleged gunman who shot dead at least 50 people inside an Orlando gay club may have been motivated by hatred for the LGBT community, his family said.

Omar Mateen, 29, reported to be the perpetrator behind the shootings at Pulse nightclub on Sunday, felt offended by homosexuals, according to NBC News.

In a telephone conversation with NBC News, Mateen's father spoke of an event when Mateen allegedly became angry at seeing two men kiss.

"We were in Downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music. And he saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry," Mir Seddique said.

"They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, 'Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that.' And then we were in the men's bathroom and men were kissing each other".

While the motive for the shooting has not been confirmed, the FBI are treating the massacre as an act of terrorism.

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Orlando shooting: Barack Obama meets victims and pleads for unity

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