Lawmakers suggest Orlando shooter had ties to radical Islam

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Top Capitol Hill lawmakers said Sunday the suspect in the Orlando nightclub shooting appears to have links to radical Islamic terrorism and that the FBI appeared to be aware of him and his activities.

The suspect has been identified as Omar Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Fla. He was born in New York and is a U.S. citizen. His parents are from Afghanistan, and he was a Muslim. Mateen was married in 2009 to a woman who was born in Uzbekistan.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Sunday that the FBI told him that Mateen "appeared" to be connected to Islamic radicalism. Nelson also said the Senate's intelligence staff thinks Mateen has "some connection" to the Islamic State terror group.

The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee says law enforcement officials and the intelligence community are checking to see what information they had on the shooter prior to the massacre at a gay Florida nightclub.

Rep. Adam Schiff called the attack "painfully reminiscent" of the November shootings at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris. He says in a statement, "This morning, I will be marching in the West Hollywood Pride Parade with a heavy heart, but we will march in solidarity with all those who are the victims of terrorism and hatred."

Seddique says: "We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident. ... We are in shock like the whole country." The father also says the incident has nothing to do with religion.

Officials say the shooter was among the 50 killed, and that they're investigating whether the incident was an act of terrorism.