This handout photo provided by the Orlando Police Department on June 12, 2016.
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In the United States, a gunman has opened fire on a crowd of people at a Florida LGBT club.Police say 20 people were killed in the attack and 42 have been taken to hospital.
“This did turn into a hostage situation”, Orlando police chief John Mina told a media briefing.
“At. 0500 hours this morning, the decision was made to rescue hostages that were in there”.
“There are multiple people dead inside. I am not sure if there are any deceased at this time”, the dispatcher said, describing it as an “active shooting”.
It was not immediately clear how many people were wounded in the shooting, or if any of the victims had died.
“Officers are going in to search the building and to get people out”, a police dispatcher told AFP.
Police said they had carried out a “controlled explosion” at the club hours after the shooting broke out, but did not explain why that was done.
“The President asked to receive regular updates as the FBI and other federal officials work with the Orlando Police to gather more information”, the White House said. He said “There are injuries”.
Multiple emergency vehicles have reportedly responded, including the Orlando Fire Department’s bomb squad and hazardous material team.
Pulse Orlando’s earlier posted a note to its own Facebook page that said: “Everyone get out of pulse and keep running”.
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Police say there was apparently no personal connection between singer Christina Grimmie and the man who drove 100 miles to shoot the former participant on “The Voice” following an Orlando concert.
