Orlando killer Mateen ‘visited Pulse gay club’ several times

The man behind the worst mass shooting in recent US history visited the gay nightclub several times where he carried out the massacre, witnesses say, reports agencies. Chris Callen, a performer at Pulse in Orlando, Florida, told the New York Daily News that Omar Mateen had visited the venue over the past three years. Investigators are pursuing the reports, according to US media. Mateen opened fire in the packed club early on Sunday, leaving 49 people dead and dozens wounded. Police shot him dead after he barricaded himself in a bathroom, taking several people hostage.
Mateen, a 29-year-old American of Afghan descent, pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group in the midst of his killing spree, officials say -- the worst mass shooting in US history. "I've seen him a couple of times at Pulse, a couple of other people that I've spoken with, including an-ex security guard, have actually witnessed this guy at Pulse many times before," said Chris Callen. In one incident, Mr Callen said Mateen pulled a knife on a friend after being angered by a religious joke. Despite this, Mr Callen said Mateen was a "nice guy... Maybe he got radicalised and hated who he was." "Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent," Ty Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. And another man, Kevin West, told the Washington Post he saw Mateen walking into Pulse in the early hours of Sunday, having already met him through dating app Jack'd.
While there has been no official comment from the authorities on the claims, CNN and NBC said investigators were examining them. Meanwhile, US investigators on Tuesday worked to untangle the complicated motive of the "radicalized" gunman behind the massacre at a gay club in Orlando, as reports emerged that he frequented the popular nightspot and used gay dating apps. The FBI said Monday it was "highly confident" that Mateen had been self-radicalized by reading extremist propaganda online.
Mateen's wife, Noor Zahi Salman, is so far not cooperating in the probe, a law enforcement official told the Sentinel. But investigators have talked extensively with Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, who said he had beat her.
Relatives and acquaintances portrayed Mateen as an unstable man prone to violence who expressed homophobic views. Thousands of people gathered in Orlando late Monday for a vigil honoring the victims, who ranged in age from 18 to 50.  The shooting hit the city's Latino community hard -- the club was hosting a "Latin Night" when the attack occurred. One after another, speakers urged the Florida city to unite in the face of tragedy and appealed for its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT) to refuse to yield to fear. "It should just be about accepting everyone whether you agree with them or not," said Alex Hartdegen, a 20-year-old art student.

Orlando killer Mateen visited Pulse gay club several times

The man behind the worst mass shooting in recent US history visited the gay nightclub several times where he carried out the massacre, witnesses say, reports agencies. Chris Callen, a performer at Pulse in Orlando, Florida, told the New York Daily News that Omar Mateen had visited the venue over the past three years. Investigators are pursuing the reports, according to US media. Mateen opened fire in the packed club early on Sunday, leaving 49 people dead and dozens wounded. Police shot him dead after he barricaded himself in a bathroom, taking several people hostage. Mateen, a 29-year-old American of Afghan descent, pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group in the midst of his killing spree, officials say -- the worst mass shooting in US history. Ive seen him a couple of times at Pulse, a couple of other people that Ive spoken with, including an-ex security guard, have actually witnessed this guy at Pulse many times before, said Chris Callen. In one incident, Mr Callen said Mateen pulled a knife on a friend after being angered by a religious joke. Despite this, Mr Callen said Mateen was a nice guy... Maybe he got radicalised and hated who he was. Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent, Ty Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. And another man, Kevin West, told the Washington Post he saw Mateen walking into Pulse in the early hours of Sunday, having already met him through dating app Jackd. While there has been no official comment from the authorities on the claims, CNN and NBC said investigators were examining them. Meanwhile, US investigators on Tuesday worked to untangle the complicated motive of the radicalized gunman behind the massacre at a gay club in Orlando, as reports emerged that he frequented the popular nightspot and used gay dating apps. The FBI said Monday it was highly confident that Mateen had been self-radicalized by reading extremist propaganda online. Mateens wife, Noor Zahi Salman, is so far not cooperating in the probe, a law enforcement official told the Sentinel. But investigators have talked extensively with Mateens ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, who said he had beat her. Relatives and acquaintances portrayed Mateen as an unstable man prone to violence who expressed homophobic views. Thousands of people gathered in Orlando late Monday for a vigil honoring the victims, who ranged in age from 18 to 50. The shooting hit the citys Latino community hard -- the club was hosting a Latin Night when the attack occurred. One after another, speakers urged the Florida city to unite in the face of tragedy and appealed for its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT) to refuse to yield to fear. It should just be about accepting everyone whether you agree with them or not, said Alex Hartdegen, a 20-year-old art student.