Meet Omar Mateen, the Man That Killed 53 People At A Gay Club

The man who shot and killed some 53 people in a Florida gay club has been identified as American Muslim Omar Mateen. A US citizen of Afghan parents, Omar's said his son was angered by the sight of two gay men he saw kissing in Miami some two months prior to his mass murder.

Omar Mateen stormed into the Pulse Club in Orlando, Florida, at about 2am local time today and shot 53 people to death while some 53 others sustained injuries of varying degrees.

In an interview with NBC News, the dad said the family is shocked by the actions of their son and has apologised for his actions.

“We are saying we are apologising for the whole incident. We were not aware of the actions he was taking. “We are in shock like the whole of the country. This had nothing to do with religion.”

Mateen was 29 and was a US citizen who lived in Port St. Lucie.

It is believed he was not on a terrorism watchlist. Police have been investigating possible links to Islamist extremism.

However, it is thought he was being investigated over an unrelated crime.

It has emerged that Twitter accounts linked to ISIS have been celebrating the attack.

The shooting happened at the Pulse Club in Orlando causing people to flee in terror.

Eyewitnesses say the attacker stormed the club before shooting at the crowd.

Police have described it as an act of "domestic terrorism" and said it was carefully planned.

The attacker took hostages forcing SWAT teams to enter the club. In total about 20 people have been killed and 42 injured.