- Suspected Islamic extremist opened fire inside Pulse gay club in Orlando in the early hours of this morning
- He shot more than 40 people - killing about 20 - and took party-goers hostage before being killed by police
- Shooter, believed to be in his 20s, was carrying a suspicious device, possibly a suicide vest, when he attacked
- Police used an explosive device to distract the gunman and rescue around 30 people who had been taken hostage
- Police engaged in gunfire with the man and an officer was shot in the head, but he was saved by his helmet
- FBI says gunman may have 'leanings to radical Islamic terrorism' and it is being investigated as 'an act of terrorism'
- Took place four miles from where The Voice singer Christina Grimmie, 22, was shot dead at The Plaza Live on Friday
A suspected Islamic extremist wielding an assault rifle and a handgun has killed about 20 people after taking party-goers hostage inside a gay club in Orlando.
The gunman was carrying a suspicious device, possibly a suicide vest, when he opened fire on the dance floor inside Pulse in the early hours of this morning.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said authorities have not determined the exact number of people killed, but that 'approximately 20' have died. Another 42 people were taken to hospital.
An FBI spokesman said the mass shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism, adding that they are looking into whether this was an act of domestic or international terror, and if the shooter was a lone wolf.
Police said the gunman, who was shot dead by officers, was believed to be in his 20s was not a local man, while the FBI believe he may have 'leanings to radical Islamic terrorism'.
The killings took place less than four miles from where The Voice singer and YouTube star Christina Grimmie, 22, was shot dead at The Plaza Live in Orlando on Friday.
Attack: A woman sits on the ground outside the club while another party-goer, whose legs are covered in blood, stands beside her
Response: Emergency services are pictured at the scene outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida following this morning's shooting
![Warning: The club told revellers on Facebook that 'everyone [should] get out of Pulse and keep running' as the gunman attacked](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s3OUbGXeHs-2mVqJHoLzToE7AfsIx-N4jVmvwpax9oEPPKB0raerfPY9erl723fe9l2aqKBqaW2bHhbWVioNW2YHMbBnjheLjc-6iwGfHJLzOhuFtMbNAhitxVOHEgN5aomxCSmWgIeZnJeLTBn8Ou4QtBlIwU8Wa2VLQ_2lkZaRaPN9mmouK1cJEwAtj02kU_L_7YfaJ8gE7DNHqYU_eENla4g4fZqmWXkIsHX6WzYWq9ddZNs-xDROUmmJ6dFfM=s0-d)
Warning: The club told revellers on Facebook that 'everyone [should] get out of Pulse and keep running' as the gunman attacked
Distraught: A woman sits outside the nightclub following the mass shooting. Around 20 people were killed by the suspected gunman
People wait outside the emergency entrance of the Orlando Regional Medical Center hospital after the shooting at Pulse gay club
SWAT: Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT members arrive at the scene of the fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando
Fatalities: Orlando Police Chief John Mina said authorities have not determined the exact number of people killed, but that 'approximately 20' have died. Pictured: An Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT member
Police, army and FBI surround the club after a suspected Islamic extremist wielding an assault rifle and a handgun killed about 20 people
Writing on Facebook, Pulse urged party-goers to 'get out and keep running' as bullets started flying at around 2am local time.
At around 5am authorities sent in a SWAT team to rescue the hostages. Police used an explosive device to distract the hostage taker and rescue around 30 people.
During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet, and the gunman was killed. It was thought that at least one hostage had been locked in a bathroom with gunshot wounds.
At around 6am local time police tweeted: 'Pulse Shooting: The shooter inside the club is dead.'
Jon Alamo said he was inside the club, which was hosting a Latin-themed night, when a man holding a weapon entered the room he was in.
'I heard 20, 40, 50 shots,' Alamo said. 'The music stopped.'
Club-goer Rob Rick said it happened just before closing time. 'Everybody was drinking their last sip,' he said.
Help: People carry an injured person from the nightclub after the gunman opened fire. In total, 42 people were taken to hospital
Fears: Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a multiple shooting at the nightclub. Pictured: Police officers direct party-goers' family members away from the scene
Terrifying: Eyewitnesses described the gunman having a bomb strapped to himself when he started shooting at around 2am
Dozens of officers and medics have been at the scene including Orlando Fire Department's bomb squad and hazardous material team
Announcements: Orlando Police confirm the shooter is dead and that they were dealing with a 'mass casualty situation'
He estimated more than 100 people were still inside when he heard shots, got on the ground and crawled toward a DJ booth.
A bouncer knocked down a partition between the club area and an area in the back where only workers are allowed. People inside were able to then escape through the back of the club.
Christopher Hansen said he was in the VIP lounge when he started hearing gunshots.
'I was thinking, are you kidding me? So I just dropped down. I just said please, please, please, I want to make it out,' he said. 'And when I did, I saw people shot. I saw blood. You hope and pray you don't get shot.'
He continued to hear shooting even after he emerged, where police were telling people to back away from the club. He saw injured people being tended to across the street.
Mina Justice was outside the club trying to contact her 30-year-old son Eddie, who texted her when the shooting happened and asked her to call police.
He told her he ran into a bathroom with others to hide. He then texted her: 'He's coming.'
The gunman opened fire at a nightclub in central Florida, and multiple people were wounded, police said. Pictured: Bystanders wait in the street for news
TV reporter Stewart Moore reported from the scene outside the nightclub in Orlando. He said a source informed him the suspect was 'wearing a bomb'
This Twitter user was in the club and described what he saw. He and three others were hiding as the gunman attacked
Juan Rivera reported that the gunman had a bomb strapped to himself inside the Orlando nightclub. An FBI spokesman said the mass shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism
She said: 'The next text said: "He has us, and he's in here with us". That was the last conversation.'
Ricardo Almodovar, who was inside the nightclub, said: 'Shooter opened fire at around 2.00am. People on the dance floor and bar got down on the floor and some of us who were near the bar and back exit managed to go out through the outdoor area and just ran.'
Juan Rivera said on Twitter: 'I am safely home and hoping everyone gets home safely as well. Never seen so many dead bodies on the floor, God is good that my friends and I didn't get shot'.
Rosie Feba was in the club with her girlfriend and described the moment the shooting happened.
She told the Orlando Sentinal: 'Everyone was getting on the floor. I told her [girlfriend] I didn't think it was real, I thought it was just part of the music, until I saw fire coming out of his gun.'
Emergency services pictured outside Pulse Club, Orlando where the gunman killed around 20 people and took people hostage
A gunman opened firing at Pulse Club in Orlando causing mayhem inside. Writing on Facebook, Pulse urged party-goers to 'get out and keep running' as bullets started flying at around 2am local time
The police department posted on their official Twitter account: 'Multiple injuries. Stay away from the area.'
Dozens of officers and medics are at the scene, including Orlando Fire Department's bomb squad and hazardous material team.
The shootings have taken place less than four miles away from where The Voice singer and YouTube star Christina Grimmie, 22, was shot dead by a gunman at The Plaza Live in Orlando on Friday 22.45 local time.
The man, identified as 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl, of St Petersburg, Florida was armed with two handguns, ammunition and a hunting knife.
He later killed himself and his motive was unknown.
This morning Donald Trump this morning tweeted: 'Really bad shooting in Orlando. Police investigating possible terrorism. Many people dead and wounded.'
Locations of the shooting in Pulse nightclub and The Plaza Live shooting where The Voice star Christina Grimmie, 22, was shot dead by a gunman on Friday 22.45 local time
The shootings have taken place less than four miles away from where The Voice singer Christina Grimmie (pictured) was shot dead at The Plaza Live in Orlando on Friday 22.45 local time
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