Barack Obama says there’s no sign Orlando gunman Omar Mateen was part of a larger terrorist plot
Donald Trump has criticised the American president for not linking the nightclub massacre to radical Islam
BARACK Obama said Orlando gunman Omar Mateen was inspired by extremist propaganda online but there is no evidence he was part of a bigger plot.
His comments come after the President of the USA was criticised by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump for not linking the horrific mass shooting to 'radical Islam'.
President Obama said: "This is being treated as a terrorist investigation.
"It appears that the shooter was inspired by various extremist information that was disseminated over the internet.
"At this stage we see no clear evidence that he was directed externally.
"It does appear that at the last minute he pledged allegiance to ISIL but there is no evidence so far that he was in fact directed by ISIL and also at this stage there's no direct evidence that he was part of a larger plot.
"In that sense it appears to be similar to what we saw in San Bernardino but we don't yet know."
In San Bernardino, California, 14 people were killed and 22 were seriously injured lastDecember by Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, a couple who weren't members of terrorist cells and instead were inspired by extremist information they had read online.
As well as calling for Barack Obama to resign Donald Trump has also urged his rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton, to 'get out of this race for the Presidency' after her reaction to the massacre in the Pulse nightclub in which 50 people were killed.
But the real estate mogul’s comments have been heavily criticised in the wake of the attack by Omar Mateen, the deadliest in US history.
He seemed to be gloating about the incident when he controversially tweeted “appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism”.
Mr Trump went on to post: “Is President Obama going to finally mention the words radical Islamic terrorism?
“If he doesn't he should immediately resign in disgrace!”
It comes after the FBI confirmed 29-year-old Mateen called 911 before he entered the Florida gay club to declare allegiance with ISIS before opening fire on revellers.
President Obama called the tragedy “an act of terror and an act of hate”, and an “especially heartbreaking day” for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Americans.
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In a press conference he said: “The shooter targeted a nightclub where people came together to be with friends, to dance and to sing, and to live.
“The place where they were attacked is more than a nightclub - it is a place of solidarity and empowerment where people have come together to raise awareness, to speak their minds, and to advocate for their civil rights.
“So this is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American - regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation - is an attack on all of us and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define us as a country.
“And no act of hate or terror will ever change who we are or the values that make us Americans.”
Trump repeated calls for Obama to resign in a statement released on Sunday evening.
He said: “Last night, our nation was attacked by a radical Islamic terrorist.
“It was the worst terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11, and the second of its kind in six months.
“My deepest sympathy and support goes out to the victims, the wounded, and their families.
“'In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words ‘Radical Islam’.
“For that reason alone, he should step down.”
And he turned his fire on the Democratic candidate for President, adding: “If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words 'Radical Islam' she should get out of this race for the Presidency.”
Mateen, who was eventually killed when police shot him dead inside the club, was a US citizen having been born in New York to parents who were from Afghanistan.
Despite this Trump still touted his controversial plans for a ban of all non-American Muslims coming into the United States as a solution to stopping similar incidents.
And he said he will deliver a speech on Monday to further address the attack, immigration and national security.
But he stopped short of calling for gun control, or mention the fact the shooting was targeting the gay community, something Ms Clinton was willing to do.
She initially responded to news of the killings on Twitter, posting: “Woke up to hear the devastating news from Florida.
“As we wait for more information, my thoughts are with those affected by this horrific act.”
In a statement she said: “This was also an act of hate. The gunman attacked an LGBT nightclub during Pride Month.
“To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country.
“I am one of them. We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear.
“Hate has absolutely no place in America.
“Finally, we need to keep guns like the ones used last night out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals.
“This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States and it reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.”
Her rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders, also talked up gun control, saying: “We should not be selling automatic weapons which are designed to kill people.”
The Senator said: “We have got to do everything that we can on top of that to make sure that guns do not fall into the hands of people who should not have them, criminals, people who are mentally ill.”
And Marco Rubio, a former presidential contender and Florida senator, said: “We know that some of it is inspired by a warped ideology.
“We know that we've been in conflict with it for a very long time.
“We know that they seek to intimidate us, they seek to terrorize us, and I hope they see today that they won't terrorize Americans, they won't terrorize Floridians.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "horrified" by the shootings, while French President Francois Hollande said he "expresses the full support of France and the French with America's authorities and its people in this difficult time".
And Buckingham Palace said a personal message had been sent to President Obama, saying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were "shocked by the events in Orlando".
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