President Obama responded Sunday to the mass shooting that took place hours earlier at a gay nightclub in Orlando and said it was “an act of terror and an act of hate.”
“As Americans we are united in grief, in outrage and resolve to defend our people,” Obama said, calling it a “horrific massacre.”
The shooting left 50 people dead and dozens more injured. A man, since identified as Omar Mateen, open fired into the crowd and held some 30 people hostage in the club. Mateen died in a shootout after SWAT members worked to free the hostages.
Obama said that they were still “learning all the facts,” and that federal resources were available for law enforcement to conduct their investigations.
“This was an act of terror and an act of hate,” he said.
Obama reiterated that the incident was being investigated as an act of terror, but didn’t know the precise motivation.
“What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred,” Obama said.
He said it was “especially heartbreaking” for LGBT individuals and said it was a “sobering reminder” that an attack on any American is “an attack on all of us.”
This post has been updated.
