If you’ve ever been to Orlando, Fla., you know that Walt Disney World and its various theme parks make up a lot of the city’s identity.
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Salman on late Sunday told authorities her spouse had more recently “been scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse” for attacks.
Unlike the major Disney World Resort theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot – Disney Springs (formally known as Downtown Disney), is about 6 miles from Magic Kingdom and does not have security or bag checkpoints.
As a federal law enforcement source told PEOPLE, the Orlando shooter may have considered Disney World as a target before he settled on Pulse, the gay nightclub where he murdered 49 people on Saturday night. Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld installed metal detectors at the gates after the Paris attacks.
“The carnage that occurred is going to elevate security at all parks, arenas, stadiums, theaters”, consulting firm International Theme Park Services president Dennis Speigel wrote in an email obtained by The Orlando Sentinel.
On Sunday, at Universal Studios’ CityWalk attraction, Fort Lauderdale resident Rodrigo Salles was said to be relieved to find that Universal had metal detectors and a bag check when he visited on Sunday.
On the other side of the country, law enforcement agencies in Southern California increased security at theme parks Sunday, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter.
The incident at Pulse started at around 2am local time when an off-duty police officer is reported to have attempted a “gun battle with the suspect” according to Orlando Police Chief John Mina.
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“We are all heartbroken by the tragic and horrific events in Orlando, and offer our thoughts, prayers and support to everyone in our community affected by this senseless act”, said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company in a statement. “We stand ready to help our community in any way we can”.
