Orlando gunman’s wife could face criminal charges ‘as soon as Wednesday’, say law enforcement sources
The wife of gunman Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people and injured another 53 in a mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, could face charges as soon as Wednesday.
At least 49 people were killed and 53 were injured in the shooting at the Pulse gay club in Orlando over the weekend.
With more than a hundred now confirmed dead or injured, the shooting is the worst in American history.
A law enforcement source told Reuters that Noor Salman, who was married to Mateen when he took to the Pulse nightclub on Sunday to kill dozens with an assault rifle, could face criminal charges by Wednesday.
This comes as a federal grand jury has been convened to study possible wrongdoing by Noor, who admitted that she knew about his plans to attack the nightclub, and failed to inform the authorities.
NBC News reports: “Omar Mateen’s current wife, Noor, told the FBI she was with him when he bought ammunition and a holster, several officials familiar with the case said.
“She told the FBI that she once drove him to the gay nightclub, Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out.
“Authorities are considering filing criminal charges against Noor for failing to tell them what she knew before the brutal attack, law enforcement officials say, but no decision has been made.”
Mateen’s ex-wife Sitora Yusufiy has condemned him in the media.
Speaking to CNN, Senator Angus King, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Noor had “some knowledge” of the attack prior to it taking place.
“She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating and can provide us with some important information,” the US Senator said.
It emerged earlier this week from regulars at the Pulse nightclub, that Mateen visited the venue as many as a dozen times over a period of as long as three years, prior to the attack.
The weapons used in the attack are believed to have been bought legally, as Mateen held two gun licences.
Authorities were also investigation reports that Mateen was spotted at Orlando’s Walt Disney World, sparking concerns that it may have been a potential target for an attack.
49 people were killed and 53 injured on Sunday in the shocking terrorist hate crime attack, which saw a gunman open fire inside The Pulse gay bar in Orlando, Florida.
ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the attack, which was perpetrated by US citizen Omar Mateen. The majority of the victims were Latino.
In a statement, President Obama mourned the victims of the homophobic hate crime attack and called for greater restrictions on arms sales.
In response, Republican nominee Donald Trump said Obama should resign for failing to rally against Islam in his comments.
The attack has been condemned by American Muslim leaders, who addressed ISIS in saying: “You do not speak for us.”
