MSA Intel

Overview

At approximately 2:00am this morning, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, a U.S. citizen born to Afghan parents, opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL. Prior to the attack, Mateen called a 911 operator and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Mateen, armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun, killed at least 50 people and injured 53 others at the club, which caters to the LGBT community. He was also reportedly wearing an explosive vest; however it is unclear whether the explosives detonated or were ever viable. There were an estimated 320 people inside the club at the time of the shooting. After opening fire, Mateen took about 100 people hostage. Around 5:00am, police officers used a controlled explosion to distract Mateen, at which point they rescued the hostages and subdued the shooter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating and working closely with the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Seminal County Sheriff's office. The attack is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. 

Image Credit: Fox News

Analysis

Pulse nightclub is as a “soft-target” with limited asset hardening measures. The densely populated public assembly location combined with dark lighting and loud music most likely obscured gunshot noises and the initial stages of the attack. The facility likely had ingress and egress choke points utilized by club security for limiting access, but hindering rapid evacuation efforts. Law enforcement officials have confirmed Mateen was "on the radar" of U.S. officials for some time and was interviewed twice by the FBI, but was never the target of a specific investigation. As Mateen held two firearms licenses, one for concealed carry and the other as a security officer, he received minimal training for his licensing and job requirements. While the FBI has confirmed the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism, it is unclear whether Mateen was acting alone or part of a larger operation or cell. The FBI has reportedly determined Mateen may have had “leanings to radical Islamic terrorism;” however, it is unclear whether Mateen was receiving support directly from a transnational terrorist group or acting as a “lone-wolf.” ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attack through Amaq News, a Syrian news agency connected to the extremist organization. U.S. government officials have deemed the attack an act of terrorism and hate crime targeting the LGBT community. 

At approximately 2:00am this morning, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, a U.S. citizen born to Afghan parents, opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL. Prior to the attack, Mateen called a 911 operator and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Mateen, armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun, killed at least 50 people and injured 53 others at the club, which caters to the LGBT community. He was also reportedly wearing an explosive vest; however it is unclear whether the explosives detonated or were ever viable. There were an estimated 320 people inside the club at the time of the shooting. After opening fire, Mateen took about 100 people hostage. Around 5:00am, police officers used a controlled explosion to distract Mateen, at which point they rescued the hostages and subdued the shooter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating and working closely with the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Seminal County Sheriff's office. The attack is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

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