Five years later, as Governor DeSantis issued a proclamation in remembrance of this horrific attack – the media, and many Americans still perpetuate the half-truth that this was simply a hate crime against the LGBT community. It was much more than that – it was an attack against the LGBT community, and all of Western tolerance and acceptance of that community. It was an attack firmly based in the tenets of Fundamental Islam.

Orlando Attack Timeline – Just the facts.

9 JUN 2016 the Islamic State threatened to attack Florida…more specifically government workers, but Florida nonetheless.

The Islamic State, Al Nusra and Al Qaeda have shifted some of their efforts from centralized planning and execution of operations by so-called “Card Carrying Members” to inspiring individuals and small groups to “self-radicalize” and attack soft Western targets as they are able.

Both the Al Qaeda publication “Inspire” and the Islamic State publication “Dabiq” encourage, enable and act as a guide for such attacks. Likewise many Imams in the United States – including some in South/Central Florida have repeatedly and often spouted hatred and damnation upon the LGBT community. This is in agreement with the Sunna, Sharia, Hadiths and Koran.

While the different factions of Salafist Islam may not “get along” with each other, and in some cases even actively fight each other – their methods, ideology and goals remain in synchronicity.

The Islamic State has openly advertised its hatred for the LGBT community, and has published video of “homosexuals” being tortured and ultimately thrown from the top of high buildings for their crimes against Allah.

An American Citizen named Omar Saddiqui Mateen was an Islamist that, like all Islamists, hated the LGBT community.

Mateen lived in Port St. Lucie County in the city of Fort Pierce.

Mateen was married with a child.

Mateen’s parents are Afghani.

Mateen earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Mateen aspired to be a sworn Police Officer.

Mateen was a licensed armed security guard, for G4S, and was normally assigned to a court house billet. Although, after coworkers reported his Islamist rantings on the job, he was reassigned to a less high profile position at a facility for juvenile delinquents. Coworkers state that the company was reluctant to fire him due to the perception of islamophobia.

Mateen bought all of his firearms through an FFL in full compliance with Florida and Federal Law.

Mateen attempted to buy ballistic body armor, and bulk ammunition, but the vendor declined to sell to him and reported the incident to the FBI.

As a sophomore at Martin County High School, three separate classmates recall Mateen being elated at the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the classroom, they were gathered, watching the events in NYC and DC unfold on TV, and Mateen “started jumping up-and-down cheering on the terrorists.” , “I was sleeping in class and woke up to see people jumping off buildings, so I started swearing and they sent me up, but Omar was saying some really rude stuff. Stuff like. ‘That’s what America deserves.’ That kind of thing. It wasn’t right.” Both the witness and Mateen were sent to the dean’s office at the same time for misbehaving.

Mateen was enrolled in the Fundamental Islamic Knowledge Seminary (recently renamed the Timbuktu Seminary), run by Marcus Dwayne Robertson, a former US Marine.

Robertson served as a bodyguard to the “Blind Sheik” Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was involved in the 1993 World Trade Center Attack. Robertson also led a gang of New York bank robbers called “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” before resurfacing in Orlando, where he started the seminary.

Robertson and several associates were rounded up for questioning early Sunday after Mateen’s attack.

There are reports that Mateen was conflicted between his own sexuality and his Islamist ideology. A former classmate in the same 2006 police academy class of Mateen, believed the 29-year-old killer was gay. He told the Palm Beach Post that Mateen once asked him out romantically and said they had spent time together at gay nightclubs after classes at the Indian River Community College police academy. He said: “We went to a few gay bars with him, and I was not out at the time, so I declined his offer,”

Mateen recently saw two gay people kissing and was angered by it, according to his father.

Cord Cedeno, of Orlando claimed after the attack that Mateen attempted to hook up with him on Grindr.

Mateen made the umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 2011 – and again in March 2012.

Mateen was interviewed three times by FBI agents — twice in 2013, once in 2014 — However, both inquiries proved inconclusive and the cases were closed.

Mateen was not under surveillance or the subject of an active investigation at the time of the shooting.

The 2013 investigation was related to comments Mateen allegedly made to a co-worker “alleging possible terror ties.” FBI agents were unable to “verify the substance” of his comments.

Mateen was also interviewed by the FBI in 2014 due to his ties to an American man who later drove an explosive-laden truck into a restaurant in Syria for an Al Qaeda affiliate (Al Nusra).

Mateen and the suicide bomber, Moner-Muhammad Abu Salha, attended the same mosque (Fort Pierce Islamic Center), however, the FBI determined their contact “was minimal.”

Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman, of the Fort Pierce Islamic Center, claims that there is no tie to the mosque and Islamist teaching.

Mateen is known to have been fond of the videos of the Imam Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-Yemeni Islamist that colluded with Nidal Hissan (the Fort Hood shooter) and Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, AKA Carlos Leon Bledsoe (The Little Rock Recruiting Office shooter), and inspired Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (the “underwear bomber”), Faisal Shahzad, (The Times Square bomber) and Mohammad Youssef Abdulazee (the Chatanooga shooter) among many others. Awlaki was killed by a US Missile strike in Yemen on 9-30-2011.

Mateen’s Ex -Wife: “He was not a stable person,” she said, “He beat me. He would just come home and start beating me up because the laundry wasn’t finished or something like that.” The couple married in 2009 but divorced in 2011.

Mateen and his new wife, Noor Zahi Salman, scouted different locations in the Orlando area, including the Downtown Disney area and another gay nightclub before apparently settling on The Pulse – a well-known LGBT night spot.

Disney claims that it notified FBI the couple may have been casing Downtown Disney and other areas in April.

Mateen is alleged to have visited The Pulse on numerous occasions leading up to the attack, and witnesses said that on the night of the attacks, he was seen drinking alone at the bar.

Salman allegedly knew of the impending attack, and even acted as his driver on at least one casing effort at The Pulse. She cooperated with the FBI, and claims to have attempted to talk him out of the attack.

12 JUN 2016

0200 – Mateen tweeted: “Now taste the Islamic state vengeance.” He continued to access his Facebook account throughout the morning during lulls in the attack.

Mateen’s mother called Salman to ask if she knew where Mateen was, Salman responded that she did not. After hanging up, Salman texted Mateen, “Where are you?”

Mateen shouted “Allah hu Akbar!” as he started his attack -alone- in the entrance area of The Pulse Nightclub, opening up with Sig Sauer MCX carbine (semi-automatic) probably chambered in 5.56mm, and accepting STANAG magazines. He was also armed with a Glock 9mm pistol and claimed to have explosives.

An off-duty Police Officer engaged him almost immediately, but was unable to put Mateen down. He realized that he was outgunned and had to retreat to wait for back up.

Mateen continued to shoot as club patrons fled, some locking themselves in back and rest rooms.

Club patron Luis Burbano was one of two people who escaped through the back door of the facility and then, out of fear, held the door closed, trapping dozens of patrons inside. (Opinion: This is probably where the reports of accomplices on the scene trapping people came from – and leading to several conspiracy theories)

Witnesses claim that Mateen was laughing frantically – like he was making fun of the victims, as he killed as many as he could.

Mateen methodically shot the wounded to insure they were dead. In total he fired at least 200 rounds.

0208 – Officers from various law enforcement agencies made entrance to Pulse and engaged the shooter. They were able to  corner Mateen while many patrons fled and were rescued.

Mateen stopped shooting and barricaded himself inside of the club, in one of the restrooms with hostages.

0218 – OPD SWAT initiated a full call-out.

0230  – Mateen sent a text to Salman “Do you see what’s happening?” When Salman answered, “No?”, Mateen texted back, “I love you, babe.”

0235 – Shooter contacted a 911 operator from inside Pulse. The call lasted approximately 50 seconds, the details of which are set out below:

Orlando Police Dispatcher (OD)

Shooter (OM)

OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.

OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic]

OD: What?

OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.

OD: What’s your name?

OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

OD: Ok, What’s your name?

OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.

OD: Alright, where are you at?

OM: In Orlando.

OD: Where in Orlando?

[End of call.]

0248 – First crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately nine minutes.

0303 – Second crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately 16 minutes.

0324 – Third crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately three minutes.

In these calls, Mateen’s demeanor during these communications was calm and collected. He again identified himself as an Islamic soldier, who pledged his allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, and told the negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq and that is why he was “out here right now.” When the crisis negotiator asked Mateen what he had done, the shooter stated, “No, you already know what I did.” Mateen continued, stating, “There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and I’m gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid.” Later in the call with the crisis negotiator, Mateen stated that he had a vest, and further described it as the kind they “used in France.” The shooter later stated, “In the next few days, you’re going to see more of this type of action going on.” Mateen hung up and multiple attempts to get in touch with him were unsuccessful. He also praised the Tsarnaev brothers – the pair that committed the bomb attack on the Boston Marathon in 2013.

Mateen claims to have a suicide vest and other explosives, delayed direct action by SWAT Operators.

The club patrons that were locked in the back and in restrooms, numbered approximately 30, and sheltered in place, unable to leave.

The remaining living club patrons either escaped on their own or were evacuated by Law Enforcement.

Mateen posted to Facebook and Twitter over the next three hours. Posts include (he is linked to at least 5 Facebook accounts):

“I pledge my alliance to (ISIS leader) abu bakr al Baghdadi..may Allah accept me,”

“The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west”

“You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes…now taste the Islamic State vengeance.”

“America and Russia stop bombing the Islamic State”

“In the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic State in the USA.”

Additionally, Mateen searched for media reports, using search words such as “Pulse Orlando”, “Shooting”,  “San Bernardino attack” , “Baghdadi Speech” , “FBI” and searched the facebook sites of Local Law Enforcement.

Mateen also made 16 other phone calls during this period.

0421 – Orlando Police pulled an air conditioning unit out of a Pulse dressing room window, enabling a number of people trapped inside to escape.

0429 – As victims were being rescued, they told OPD the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes. (An immediate search of the shooter’s vehicle on scene and inside Pulse ultimately revealed no vest or improvised explosive device.)

0500, Mateen’s words and actions led police to believe that he would soon start killing hostages.

After about 3 hours of attempting to resolve the situation, Orlando Police Department SWAT Operators breached, banged and cleared the crime scene on the order of the Chief of Police.

0502 – OPD SWAT and OCSO Hazardous Device Team began to breach wall with explosive charge and armored vehicle to make entry.The initial explosive breach was unsuccessful, but SWAT operators used a BearCat armored car to ram and breach the wall, creating a hole for the egress of hostages.

0514 – OPD radio communication stated that shots were fired. Mateen counter attacked, engaging the SWAT operators.

0515 – OPD radio communication stated that OPD engaged the suspect and the suspect was reported down. Mateen was killed. One OPD SWAT Operator was slightly injured in the face when his helmet stopped a bullet fired by Mateen.

There were dozens of heroic acts, people aiding each other, cops exposing themselves to fire to get people out, etc.

At least 14 Law Enforcement Officers exchanged fire with Mateen over the course of the morning. All are on administrative leave and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an investigation.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal secured all suspected IEDs at the location. None has been confirmed as containing actual explosives.

An additional .38-caliber firearm was recovered from the Mateen’s rental car.

There were approximately 320 patrons in the club at the time.

Mateen killed at least 49 people, and wounded at least 53 others.

The Islamic State almost immediately claimed responsibility and praised Mateen.

Thousands of Floridians have given blood – to the point that the collection centers had to turn people away.

Thousands of Americans and others have donated untold funds and materiel to assist first responders and blood donors.

This was called the worst mass shooting event in US history (Prior to the Las Vegas attack), and the worst Terrorist Attack since 11 SEP 2001.

A Federal Grand Jury convened to decide if charges should be preferred against Noor Zahi Salma for being complicit in the preparation and planning of the attack. She was later charged only with obstruction of justice, and acquitted on all charges.

US Attorney Lee Bentley said that “We have no reason to believe that anyone connected to this crime is placing the public in imminent danger at this time” (The fact that Noor Zahi Salman is cooperating with the FBI may be germane to this statement.)

Salman and Seddique Mateen’s names have been added to the U.S. Government’s Terrorist Screening Database, aka : The NO FLY list.

20 JUN 2016, Islamic State released a new propaganda video, titled “You Are Not Held Responsible Except Yourself,” on their online terrorist channels. The video begins with a clip that was previously used by the Islamic State last November, following the Paris attacks, showing a man assembling a suicide belt then walking into the busy streets of Times Square. The video later shows five IS fighters with different accents, including one black male with an American accent, praising the Orlando shooter Omar Mateen, as well as Larossi Abballa, an Islamic State sympathizer who murdered two French police officers in Magnanville days after the Orlando attack. The video is believed to have been released from Wilayat al-Furat in Iraq, located near the border of Syria

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The below list of all 49 victims who lost their lives

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old