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ORLANDO GUNSHOTS
Harrowing moment terrorist unloads 24 shots in just nine seconds inside packed gay nightclub
Terrified man can be heard to say: "Oh my god, people are getting shot, dude.”
THIS is the harrowing moment an Islamic extremist fired 24 shots at revellers inside a Florida gay nightclub.
Fifty were killed and 53 injured when Omar Mateen attacked Pulse nightclub with an assault rifle before taking hostages in the early hours of this morning. He was killed in the ensuing shoot-out with police.
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The horrific footage was taken outside the Orlando club and records the sound of 24 shots being fired in just nine seconds as screams can be heard coming from the building.
Return shots are also heard.
A man taking the Snapchat video says: “Oh my god, people are getting shot, dude.”
Another man standing next to him replies: “We need to get out of here. This guy’s firing out shots. “
New York-born Mateen, 29 – born to Afghan parents - is believed to have possessed extremist sympathies.
Police called the tragedy - which took place between 2am and 5am local time - “an act of terrorism”.
The attack eclipses the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech university, which left 32 dead.
The gunman’s father Mir Seddique told NBC that his son became radicalised after seeing two men kissing in Miami.
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He said: “This has nothing to do with religion.
"We are saying we are apologising for the whole incident. We weren't aware of any action he is taking. We are in shock like the whole country.”
According to the NY Post, several Twitter accounts linked to terror group ISIS have celebrated the attack at the city's Pulse nightclub - where the shooter was shot dead after bomb squads carried out a controlled explosion.
The venue’s last Facebook message was posted as the tragedy unfolded: "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running".
At a press conference this morning, police confirmed that multiple people - in the “vicinity of 20” - had been killed in the attack, but refused to give an exact number.
Authorities revealed the attacker was carrying an assault rifle, a handgun and “some kind of device”.
Images from a mobile phone have appeared online supposedly from a clubber, who was hiding in the toilet, texting his mother for help.
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The text says: "Mommy I love you. In club they shooting."
His mum replies "what club” and he says “Pulse” before adding “call police.”
It has not been confirmed whether the reveller survived the attack.
An FBI spokesman previously said the gunman may have had extremist beliefs and could possibly be linked to terror group ISIS before the identity of Omar Mateen was confirmed.
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