The suspect, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, is a Muslim American of Afghan descent and police are investigating whether he may have had a terrorist motive.
US law enforcement is investigating whether he had links to — or was inspired by — Islamist terrorism.
And US media, citing law enforcement sources, reported that he called police during the massacre to claim allegiance to the Islamic State group.
But relatives interviewed by US media say Mateen, who worked as a security officer, was not overly religious but had anti-gay views and had regularly assaulted his ex-wife.
