Moreover, he said, that if accurate, "according to local law enforcement the shooter declared his allegiance to ISIS (Islamic State)." Two U.S. officials familiar with the investigation into the massacre said that no evidence had yet been found showing a direct link between the massacre and Islamic State or any other militant group. "The armed attack that targeted a gay night club in the city of Orlando in American state of Florida which left over 100 people dead or injured was carried out by an Islamic State fighter," said the Amaq statement. The suspected shooter was identified by authorities as Omar Mateen, a Florida resident who a senior FBI official said might have had leanings toward Islamic State. The FBI official cautioned, however, that proving the suspected link to radical Islamism required further investigation.

Source: Huffington Post June 12, 2016 18:45 UTC