WASHINGTON - Fifty people were killed and 53 others were injured early Sunday morning in a shooting incident at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, said the city's authorities.
The gunman was found dead inside the Pulse nightclub after a shootout with police, according to Orlando Police Chief John Mina.
The authorities had already identified the alleged shooter as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
According to Ronald Hopper, an assistant Federal Bureau of Investigation agent in charge, the authorities now had "suggestions that the individual may have leanings toward" ideology held by the extremist group the Islamic State.
"It appeared he was organized and well-prepared," said Mina at a earlier press conference, adding that the suspect had an assault-type weapon and a handgun.
FBI spokesman Danny Banks said at the press conference that the mass shooting was being investigated as an act of terrorism.
"Do we consider this an act of terrorism? Absolutely, we are investigating this from all parties' perspective as an act of terrorism," said Banks.
The shooting began around 2:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) inside the club and there once was a confrontation between the suspect and an officer working at the club outside the venue, according to local police.
Then the suspect went back into the club to continue shooting and took hostages.
About three hours after the shooting first broke out, police shot and killed the suspect during actions to rescue the hostages, said Mina. (Xinhua)