'Islamic extremist' Omar Mateen, 29, who shot dead 50 and injured 53 in Orlando gay club massacre was homophobe 'who got angry when he saw two men kissing' :VIDEO

PICTURED: Worst mass shooter in U.S. history - NYC-born 'Islamic extremist' Omar Mateen, 29, who shot dead 50 and injured 53 in Orlando gay club massacre was homophobe 'who got angry when he saw two men kissing' 

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• WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 
• Suspected Islamic extremist opened fire inside Pulse gay club in Orlando in the early hours of this morning 
• Law enforcement sources have identified the shooter as US citizen Omar Mateen, from Port St. Lucie in Florida
• He killed at least 50 people, injured 53 and took party-goers hostage before being shot dead by police
• Shooter, 29, was carrying a suspicious device, possibly a suicide vest, when he began shooting in the nightclub
• 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
• See more of the latest news on the Orlando shooting at Pulse gay club as gunman shoots at least 50 dead

By Matt Hunter For Mailonline and Jenny Stanton In New York and Jose Lambiet In Fort Pierce, Florida For Dailymail.com

The gunman who slaughtered at least 50 people after taking party-goers hostage inside a gay club in Orlando had pledged allegiance to Islamic State, according to California congressman Adam Schiff.

Schiff, who serves as top Democrat on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, told CNN: 'What I've heard from the Department of Homeland Security this morning is that, according to local police, he made a pledge of allegiance to ISIL (ISIS).'

He said the shooting was 'highly indicative of an ISIL-inspired attack'. 

Schiff added: '[He] was heard praying in a foreign language and I don't know if this was at some point during the course of the shooting but that's what I'm hearing, obviously second hand, coming ultimately from local police.'

Law enforcement sources have identified the shooter, who was wielding an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun, as US citizen Omar Mateen, 29, from Port St. Lucie in Florida.  

The gunman, who was born to Afghan parents, opened fire on the dance floor inside Pulse night club in the early hours of this morning.

At least 50 people were killed and 53 others were injured in the shooting in the deadliest mass shooting in US history. A surgeon at Orlando Regional Medical Center said the death toll was likely to climb.

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.  

Schiff said in a statement: 'This attack is so painfully reminiscent of the terrible attack at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, and other ISIS-inspired attacks in recent years.

'The fact that this shooting took place during Ramadan and that ISIS leadership in Raqqa has been urging attacks during this time, that the target was an LGBT night club during Pride, and - if accurate - that according to local law enforcement the shooter declared his allegiance to ISIS, indicates an ISIS-inspired act of terrorism. 

'Whether this attack was also ISIS-directed, remains to be determined. '  

But Mateen's father, Mir Seddique, told NBC News his son became angry when he saw two men kissing in Miami several months ago.

'This has nothing to do with religion,' he said. 'We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident. We weren't aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country.'

Writing on Facebook, Pulse, which described itself as the most prominent gay club in Orlando, urged party-goers to 'get out and keep running' as bullets started flying at around 2am local time.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the suspect exchanged gunfire with an officer working at the club around 2am, then went back inside and took hostages. There were about 320 people inside the club at the time of the shootings and about 100 people were taken hostage. 

At around 5am authorities sent in a SWAT team to rescue the hostages. Nine hero officers used a 'controlled explosion' to distract the shooter before fatally shooting him and were able to rescue about 30 hostages who were hiding in the bathroom of the club.

During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet. It was thought that at least one hostage had been locked in a bathroom with gunshot wounds.  

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Pictured: US citizen Omar Mateen, 29, the suspected Islamic extremist who slaughtered at least 50 people inside a gay club in Orlando

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Attack: A woman sits on the ground outside the club while another party-goer, whose legs are covered in blood, stands beside her

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Response: Emergency services are pictured at the scene outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida following this morning's shooting

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Distraught: A woman sits outside the nightclub following the mass shooting. Around 50 people were killed by the suspected gunman

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Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during following the shooting at Pulse nightclub

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Ray Rivera, a DJ at Pulse Orlando nightclub, is consoled by a friend outside of the Orlando Police Department following the shooting

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Demetrice Naulings (left) sobs outside the Orlando Police Headquarters where police are interviewing witnesses. Right: People wait outside the emergency entrance of the Orlando Regional Medical Center hospital after the shooting at Pulse gay club

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Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during following the shooting at Pulse nightclub

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Ray Rivera, a DJ at Pulse Orlando nightclub, is consoled by a friend outside of the Orlando Police Department following the shooting

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Demetrice Naulings (left) sobs outside the Orlando Police Headquarters where police are interviewing witnesses. Right: People wait outside the emergency entrance of the Orlando Regional Medical Center hospital after the shooting at Pulse gay club

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Friends and family members embrace outside Orlando Police Headquarters following the deadly shooting in the early hours of this morning

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SWAT: Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT members arrive at the scene of the fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando

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Fatalities: At least 50 people were killed and 53 others were injured in the shooting. Pictured: An Orange County Sheriff's Department SWAT member

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Police, army and FBI surround the club after a suspected Islamic extremist wielding an assault rifle and a handgun killed about 50 people

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An FBI spokesman said the mass shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Pictured: Forensics at the scene of the shooting

Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a press conference: 'Many were saved by the heroic efforts of the men and women of the OPD, the Orange County Sheriffs, Seminal County Sheriff's office.' 

At around 6am local time police tweeted: 'Pulse Shooting: The shooter inside the club is dead.' 

Twitter accounts which claim to be affiliated to the Islamic State have hailed the shooting, although DailyMail.com cannot confirm whether the terror group was behind the attack. 

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson identified the shooter as Mateen, citing law enforcement officials in speaking to reporters.

Mateen, a Muslim and father to a three-year-old son, was born in 1986 in New York and married Sitora Alisherzoda Yusufiy, who was born in Uzbekistan, in 2009.

His father told NBC News:  'We were in Downtown Miami, Bayside, people were playing music. And he saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry.

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Help: People carry an injured person from the nightclub after the gunman opened fire. In total, 42 people were taken to hospital

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Two men carry an injured man to safety following the shooting at the gay club in Orlando in the early hours of this morning 

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

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Warning: The club told revellers on Facebook that 'everyone [should] get out of Pulse and keep running' as the gunman attacked

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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

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Terrifying: Eyewitnesses described the gunman having a bomb strapped to himself when he started shooting at around 2am

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Dozens of officers and medics have been at the scene including Orlando Fire Department's bomb squad and hazardous material team 

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Nine hero officers used a 'controlled explosion' to distract the shooter before fatally shooting him and were able to rescue about 30 hostages who were hiding in the bathroom of the club. During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet (pictured)

Announcements: Orlando Police confirm the shooter is dead and that they were dealing with a 'mass casualty situation'

'They were kissing each other and touching each other and he said, "Look at that. In front of my son they are doing that". And then we were in the men's bathroom and men were kissing each other.'

Seddique said Mateen had a job in security and attended Indian River State College, as well as having an associates degree in criminal justice.

He was 'on the radar' of U.S. officials for some time, law enforcement officials told ABC News. However he was not the target of a specific investigation. 

Manteen had a Statewide Firearms License and was trained in firearms, according to Fox News. Assistant FBI Agent in Charge Ronald Hopper said Mateen made 'threats in the past that he has ties to terrorist organizations'. 

Several ISIS-linked Twitter accounts have praised Mateen's actions, although there has been no official claim of responsibility. 

Police were at his apartment in Port St. Lucie this morning. Ken Mascara, Sheriff of Port St. Lucie County, told DailyMail.com: 'We have sealed the apartment where Mateen was living. The FBI is bringing bomb diffusing equipment.' 

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.

He got on the ground and crawled toward a DJ booth.

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Scences from Orlando Regional Medical Centre close to Pulse nightclub where a shooter opened fire killing at least 50 people

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Relatives and friends of people who were inside the club at the time of the shooting are pictured outside Orlando Regional Medical Centre

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Flowers are seen in front of the Orlando Health Center where some of the victims of the shooting at Pulse nightclub are being treated

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Ken Mascara, Sheriff of Port St. Lucie County, told DailyMail.com: 'We have sealed the apartment where Mateen was living' (pictured)

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