The victims were trapped in a gay nightclub by a gunman pledging loyalty to Islamic State . Mateen, 29, called emergency services during the shooting and pledged allegiance to the leader of the militant Islamic State group, officials said. Despite Mateen's 911 call expressing support for Islamic State, US officials said they had no conclusive evidence of any direct connection with foreign extremists. Family and friends waited for news outside a center in Orlando where authorities were gathering details about people still missing. Nearly 24 hours after the rampage ended, authorities had publicly named only 21 of the victims, half of whom were in their 20s.

Source: The Star June 13, 2016 09:22 UTC