Suspected Islamic extremist shoots dead at least 20 dead at Florida gay club after bursting in 'wearing a suicide vest' and taking hostages - injuring a further 42 - before he is killed in shootout

A suspected Islamic extremist wielding an assault rifle and a handgun has killed about 20 people after taking party-goers hostage inside a gay club in Orlando. The gunman was carrying a suspicious device, possibly a suicide vest, when he opened fire on the dance floor inside Pulse in the early hours of this morning. Orlando Police Chief John Mina said authorities have

not determined the exact number of people killed, but that 'approximately 20' have died. Another 42 people were taken to hospital.

An FBI spokesman said the mass shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism, adding that they are looking into whether this was an act of domestic or international terror, and if the shooter was a lone wolf. 

Police said the gunman, who was shot dead by officers, was believed to be in his 20s was not a local man, while the FBI believe he may have 'leanings to radical Islamic terrorism'.

The killings took place less than four miles from where The Voice singer and YouTube star Christina Grimmie, 22, was shot dead at The Plaza Live in Orlando on Friday.

Writing on Facebook, Pulse urged party-goers to 'get out and keep running' as bullets started flying at around 2am local time.

At around 5am authorities sent in a SWAT team to rescue the hostages. Police used an explosive device to distract the hostage taker and rescue around 30 people. During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet, and the gunman was killed. It was thought that at least one hostage had been locked in a bathroom with gunshot wounds.

At around 6am local time police tweeted: 'Pulse Shooting: The shooter inside the club is dead.'  

Jon Alamo said he was inside the club, which was hosting a Latin-themed night, when a man holding a weapon entered the room he was in.

'I heard 20, 40, 50 shots,' Alamo said. 'The music stopped.'

Club-goer Rob Rick said it happened just before closing time. 'Everybody was drinking their last sip,' he said.

He estimated more than 100 people were still inside when he heard shots, got on the ground and crawled toward a DJ booth. 

A bouncer knocked down a partition between the club area and an area in the back where only workers are allowed. People inside were able to then escape through the back of the club.

This morning Donald Trump this morning tweeted: 'Really bad shooting in Orlando. Police investigating possible terrorism. Many people dead and wounded.' 

Source: Daily Mail