Orlando: Shooter kills around 20 in gay nightclub

TCR NEWS
12 Jun 2016



Orlando: Shooter kills around 20 in gay nightclub


At least 42 injured and the assailant killed in attack inside a gay nightclub in the US state of Florida, police says.


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.


Police officials said in a press conference 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 forces.


Injured people have been transferred to nearby hospitals, police said, adding that they cannot exactly confirm exact number of dead and injured people.


During the incident, the nightclub urged patrons to "get out" and "keep running" in a post on its Facebook page.


One witness, who said he was inside the club during the incident, said that he heard about 40 shots being fired.


Police said they carried out a "controlled explosion" at the club hours after the shooting broke out, but did not say why that was done.


Video posted online showed a large number of police and emergency vehicles outside the nightclub.


The nightclub shooting occurred just a day after a man thought to be a deranged fan fatally shot Christina Grimmie, a rising singing star who gained fame on YouTube and as a contestant on The Voice, while she was signing autographs after a concert in Orlando.


AL JAZEERA

Comments Comments(0)

Topclass Reporters