FBI was Aware of Omar Mateen Prior to Orlando Gay Nightclub Massacre

The Federal Bureau of Investigations was made aware of shooter Omar Mateen in 2013, says FBI spokesman Special Agent Hopper at a press conference at 3 p.m. EST. "He was not under current investigation, and he was not under surveillance by the FBI" at the time of the attack," he said.

Mateen, 29, committed the worst mass shooting in US history last night at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FLA. He had been interviewed by the FBI twice, due to radical islamic views he had expressed to co workers. But there had been no reason to arrest him, Hopper said. Hopper described Mateen, who lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida, as "Organized .... well prepared." His coworkers had reported Mateen's strange views, but they did not give a reason to arrest or surveil him.

There was contact between 911 dispatchers and the suspect, it was general to the Islamic State, said Hooper. "The FBI conducted an investigation with Mateen (prior to today), and decided his threat was minimal. He called 911 this morning (just before the attack), and swore allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State. "

Omar Mateen was born in New York State of Afghan immigrant parents and grew up in the U.S. He was apparently radicalized when he went to Saudi Arabia for the Haj in 2012. He worked as a security guard. He possessed both a State of Florida permit to provide security services, and a concealed weapons permit. He bought a handgun and an AR-15 assault rifle one week ago, legally at a gun store.

Trevor Vailan of the ATF said the firearms had been traced. He was not on the list forbidding him to purchase weapons, so the purchase appears to have been entirely legal. He did buy a handgun and a long gun or rifle within the last few days, he said.

Mateen reportedly shouted Allahu Akhbar during the attack. He died in a hail of law enforcement gunfire which ended the mass shooting event at the gay nightclub. A photo of Mateen has just now been released. Mateen was a decidedly ordinary looking young man.

Mateen's wife has also spoken out, saying that he used to beat her. Sitoria Alia Yusufi described Mateen today as "violent and unstable." Mateen's father said, "This had nothing to do with religion", and was quoted as saying that he had seen his son get angry after witnessing a gay couple kiss at a festival marketplace in Miami months prior to the attack, which he suggested might be a motivating factor. Others who knew him have suggested that Mateen was bipolar or paranoid-delusional.

"He's coming .. . I'm Going to Die" texted one Pulse Nightclub guest named Eddie to his Mother, as the nightclub attack began.

June 12, 2016: Early this morning, Fifty Americans were killed and 53 were injured in a terrorist attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It is the worst U.S. mass shooting ever. The terrorist has been identified as Omar Mateen, an American citizen with Afghan descent with weapon training in counterterrorism and intelligence. ISIS, the so-called "Islamic State," has claimed responsibility for the attack. Islamic leaders in the U.S. have condemned the attack.