"The full extent of Mateen’s motivations may have been complex and less clear than immediately apparent, though. A knowledgeable US official told the Guardian that while the federal investigation was in the earliest stages, an initial hypothesis regarding the shooter’s motive leaned closer to a hate crime than an act of terrorism.
“The idea of it being terrorism is not off the table, but it’s probably not the principal approach,” said the official, who would not be identified by name or agency in discussing a fast-moving investigation. “There are other reasons to believe it was motivated toward a very specific kind of community, obviously.”
That investigation was still determining if the shooting was “terrorism or a massive, massive hate crime”, the official said.
The official emphasized that all hypotheses were preliminary. Investigators were still gathering facts about the mass-casualty incident. Authorities said it was not immediately clear if the shooter was working alone, or had outside support or training. When killed, he was carrying a pistol and an assault rifle.
Live Orlando shooting: 50 killed and 53 injured in 'act of terror' – latest updates
Obama condemns ‘act of terror’ after worst mass shooting in US history as it emerges gunman Omar Mateen, who was shot dead, was known to FBI
Mir Seddique, Mateen’s father, told NBC News: “This has nothing to do with religion.” He added that his son was infuriated when he recently saw two men kissing in Miami.
Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen was known to FBI, agent says | US news | The Guardian
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