Mass shooting at Orlando nightclub - 50 dead
Fifty people are now known to have died in a shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the attack is the worst mass shooting in US history.
The gunman, named by officials as Omar Mateen, was killed after taking hostages at the Pulse club. President Barack Obama said Americans were united in grief, outrage and "resolve to defend our people."
Mateen's father, Mir Seddique, told the media that the incident had nothing to do with religion, and may have been triggered by the sight of a gay couple kissing in Miami. The family also issued an apology to all the victim's families.
Security has also been boosted for the last day of the Capital Pride LGBT festival in Washington DC, which included a moment of silence for the Orlando victims at 13:00 local time, the Washington Post reported.
Before Sunday, the deadliest shootings in U.S. history were at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, with 32 and 27 killed.
There has also been a call for O+ and O- blood donors at the hospitals and blood banks in the area as they are critically low right now for donated blood. The Orange, Osceola, and Seminole locations open are:
Orlando - West Michigan Donor Center 345 West Michigan St #106 Orlando, FL 32806 Phone: 407-835-5500 Fax: (407) 835-5505 Sun: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Orlando - Main Donor Center 8669 Commodity Circle Orlando, FL 32819 Phone: (407) 248-5009 Fax: (407) 455-7570 Sun: 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Apopka Donor Center 131 North Park Ave Apopka, FL 32703 Phone: (407) 884-7471 Fax: (407) 884-7475 Sun: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Kissimmee Donor Center 1029 North John Young Pkwy Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: (407) 847-5747 Fax: (407) 847-9605 Sun: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Oviedo Donor Center 1954 West 426 #1100 Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: (407) 588-1291 Fax: (407) 365-9982 Sun: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Lake Mary Donor Center 105 Waymont Ct #101 Lake Mary , FL 32746 Phone: (407) 322-0822 Fax: (407) 328- 1119 Sun: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM