Orlando shooting: Did killer have hatred for LGBT community?

Orlando, June 12: Omar Mateen, the 29-year-old who opened fire at a gay nightclub in Florida early on Sunday, killing 50 people and leaving over 50 injured, had reportedly called 911 moments before to pledge allegiance to the IS, law-keeping sources said on conditions of anonymity. [US has seen more mass shootings than any other country]

He also made a reference to the bombing of the Boston Marathon in 2013 during this call, officials added. [President Obama calls it an "act of terror"]

However, even as investigation was on to ascertain whether Mateen was motivated by extremist tendencies to attack the Pulse Nightclub, sources in his family said he was driven by a pure hatred against the LGBT community.

Mateen, who was identified by the officials, was born in New York and lived in Port St. Lucie in eastern Florida. He was also investigated by the FBI in 2014 but the reason for the probe and its scope were not immediately clear.

The shooter pledged allegiance to IS moments before he opened firing

Sunday's attack was considered as the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the US and the most horrific since the devastating terror attacks of 9/11. The shooting was being considered as a terrorist act even as the authorities were looking for the exact reason that made Mateen indulge in such a blood game.

Mateen, who was carrying two fire weapons, was killed after a SWAT team retaliated. The shooter worked in a security and had active security personnel and firearms licenses, records said.

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