Around 20 people have died, including the assailant, and at least 42 injured in an attack inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, in the US state of Florida, according to police.
Officials said on Sunday morning that the shooter, who was armed with assault-type rifle, handgun and some type of other device, died in a shootout with the police force.
The injured had been transferred to nearby hospitals, police said, adding that the exact number of dead and injured people inside the Pulse nightclub could not be confirmed.
"Unfortunately there are people who died from gunshot wounds, maybe around 20, inside the night club," Ron Harper, an FBI special agent, said, adding that one officer was injured.
- John Mina, Orlando police chief, said: "This did turn into a hostage situation. At approximately 05:00 hours (09:00 GMT) this morning, the decision was made to rescue hostages that were in there."
In a statement, the White House press office said US President Barack Obama was briefed of the incident by Lisa Monaco(photo), top advisor for Homeland Security and Counter terrorism.
Florida authorities said the attack was being treated as an "act of domestic or international terrorism".
Source: Al Jazeera ...More...
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