Orlando Nightclub Gunman Scouted Walt Disney World as Potential Target: Source

[mystery-ak]

http://www.people.com/article/omar-mateen-disney-world-scouted-attacks



By Stephanie Petit @stephpetit_

06/13/2016 AT 10:30 AM EDT
The gunman behind the Orlando nightclub shootings, the deadliest mass shooting in American history, recently scouted Walt Disney World as a potential target, a federal law enforcement source tells PEOPLE.

Omar Mateen and his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, visited Walt Disney World in April, the source says. Salman told federal authorities on Sunday that her husband had more recently been "scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse [nightclub] for attacks."

Unlike the four Disney World theme parks, Downtown Disney, which was recently renamed Disney Springs, doesn't have security and bag check before entry.

Metal detectors have been installed outside Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot since 2015 and guests are selected at random for screening.


continued

[geronl]

Could you image what would happen to America, the outrage if this guy had taken out Sleepy Beauty, Tigger and maybe even Chip or Dale....

oh, da horror....

[ExFreeper]

The new info, at least to me was (I assume the Sig was a 5.56 MCX with folding stock):

"Mateen bought an an AR-15-style assault rifle, a Sig Sauer RMCX, on June 4 – just one week before the attack, the source says. He also had a Glock model 17 9mm and a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver

In 2014, the FBI opened a second investigation into Mateen for his ties to Florida-born Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, the first known American suicide bomber...

An off-duty officer working at the club initially responded to the shooter, "engaging in the gun battle with the suspect" before the suspect went back into the club, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said at a Sunday morning news conference.

"The gunman called 911 approximately 30 minutes after opening fire at Orlando's Pulse" and "The 911 operator, using reverse-call technology, called back the gunman and it was then that he pledged allegiance to [ISIS leader] Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi"

So based on this info, Mateen attempted to flee and was chased back inside?

[kidd]

Could you image what would happen to America, the outrage if this guy had taken out Sleepy Beauty, Tigger and maybe even Chip or Dale....

As far as you know, those could have been some of the names of the people at the gay nightclub...

ok, that was just wrong.

[Neverdul]

“Downtown Disney, which was recently renamed Disney Springs, doesn't have security and bag check before entry.”

It would be pretty hard to have bag checks since Disney Springs is really just a large shopping and dining area and you don’t have to pay admission to get in any more than you would say at the Mall of America.

[Mechanicos]

Source: Orlando Shooter Scouted Disney Properties
Sarah Fisher

The wife of the Orlando shooter is cooperating with law enforcement agents and revealed that husband and terrorist Omar Mateen was surveilling other possible locations to carry out a massacre, according to a senior counter-terrorism official.

Disney had no comment on the threat but said it has been ramping up security "for some time."

“Unfortunately we’ve all been living in a world of uncertainty, and we have been increasing our security measures across our properties for some time, adding such visible safeguards as magnetometers, additional canine units, and law enforcement officers on site, as well as less visible systems that employ state-of-the-art security technologies,” a spokesperson for Disney said in a statement.

Fox News reports: "As of Monday, investigators are currently scrubbing the Pulse nightclub gunman’s computer for any pictures or videos of Disney World that would suggest Omar Mateen cased the park or its surrounding areas as a potential target, according to the source."

On Monday, FBI director Comey said that Mateen had talked to 911 three times during the attack. During those calls, "made clear his support for" ISIS and pledged loyalty to the terror group's leader. He also "claimed solidarity" with the Boston Marathon bombers.

http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/source-orlando-shooter-scouted-disney-properties

[rangerrebew]

Wife of Orlando Pulse terrorist Omar Mateen WARNED police he plotted Disney World attack
THE homophobic Islamic State psychopath who mercilessly gunned down hundreds of Orlando clubbers was reportedly scouting Disney World as a possible target.
By Patrick Christys

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/679587/Wife-Orlando-Pulse-terror-Omar-Mateen-police-Disney-World-attack

PUBLISHED: 05:50, Tue, Jun 14, 2016 | UPDATED: 06:14, Tue, Jun 14, 2016
 

Omar Mateen and his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, visited Walt Disney World in April, according to a US law enforcement source.

Salman reportedly warned federal authorities that her husband had been "scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse for attacks" before her partner murdered 49 people.

Unlike the four Disney World theme parks, Downtown Disney, which was recently renamed Disney Springs, doesn't have security and bag check before entry.
 

Security is much tighter at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot, with metal detectors installed outside and guests randomly selected to undergo additional screening checks.

Mateen was investigated by the FBI twice before Sunday's tragedy but went on to purchase an AR-15-style assault rifle and a Sig Sauer RMCX on June 4 – just one week before the attack, according to the insider.

He was also said to be carrying a Glock 9mm handgun and a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver.

The first investigation by the FBI reportedly occurred after Mateen made concerning comments to co-workers about links to terrorist groups.

As part of their investigation the FBI watched Mateen, spoke to witnesses and interviewed the killer on two separate occasions, but the investigation was ultimately closed, says a federal law enforcement source.

In 2014, the FBI opened a second investigation into Mateen for his ties to a Florida-born suicide bomber, Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, who killed himself in Syria in 2014.

There was not enough evidence at the time and the case was closed, the source says.

Orlando is now in a state of mourning as tributes pour in from all over the world.
   
Mateen used several Facebook accounts and also used the internet to research the San Bernadino shooters and a local gun range.

On Sunday, before the massacre, the ISIS terrorist posted about his allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, writing: "May Allah accept me."

[LadyLiberty]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/14/us/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen/index.html

(CNN)Investigators believe the Orlando nightclub gunman made surveillance trips to both the club and a Disney shopping complex earlier this month -- the same week Disney and other Orlando sites were hosting Gay Days 2016.

Omar Mir Seddique Mateen's visits to the Pulse gay nightclub and Disney Springs happened between June 1 and June 6, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. Gay Days 2016 celebrations took place at Walt Disney World and other Orlando locations between May 31 and June 6.

**snip**

Disney security officials told the FBI they believe Mateen also visited Disney World on April 26 to conduct surveillance, a law enforcement official told CNN. The FBI is investigating that possibility.
Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, was with him on the Disney World visit. Authorities are investigating whether she knew about her husband's intent, the official said. Salman has spoken to investigators.

More than a month after that Disney World trip, Mateen visited the Pulse nightclub and Disney Springs -- an entertainment and shopping complex -- apparently to scout out the locations, the official said. Authorities believe he was conducting surveillance, based on information learned in interviews.

... more at link

[LadyLiberty]

I wonder if Disney World realized that he had been there before or after the massacre, it's not clear to me. 

[livius]

Now I'm reading that Disney not only knew he had been casing them, but alerted the FBI - which of course did nothing.

[Labette]

Now I'm reading that Disney not only knew he had been casing them, but alerted the FBI - which of course did nothing.

I suspect that is the correct interpretation.