President Barack Obama will visit Orlando on Thursday to pay his respects to the victims of Sunday's deadly gun attack on a gay nightclub in the Florida city that left 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern US history.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement issued on Monday night that the US president would travel to the Florida city "to stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery".
Mr Obama described the attack by US citizen Omar Mateen (29), a security guard from Port St Lucie, two hours south of Orlando, as an act of "homegrown terrorism" in remarks to reporters yesterday in the Oval Office.
He said that it did not appear that Mateen, a Muslim of Afghan descent, had been directed by an outside terrorist group but that he was radicalised by online material.
The announcement of the US president’s travel plans came as thousands gathered for a candlelight vigil in downtown Orlando last night to the victims of the early-morning attack on Sunday on the Pulse bar and nightclub.
People carried signs saying “Peace love Pulse!”, “Orlando Will Be Strong” and “Orlando Strong!” in a show of solidarity with the victims and the survivors and a display of defiance that the local community would not be cowered by this act of terror.
The emotional vigil took place on the lawn in front of the Dr Philips Centre, the main performing arts theatre in Orlando, where people have been leaving written and floral tributes to the victims in a makeshift memorial.
"Yesterday hate visited our Orlando. For reasons we don't fully understand, our city and our very way of life was attacked," Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer told the crowd.
He said that Orlando police had identified all 49 of the victims of the Pulse gun attack and that their next of kin had been notified.
“Tonight we remain a city in pain. We are mourning and we are angry. To the family and friends of the victims, your city is with you and will continue to be with you as we contend with this unimaginable tragedy,” he said.
“To everyone else we are struggling with a darkness that has been cast over our city by a hateful, senseless act of violence but we will get through this.”
Vigil
Speakers at the two-hour vigil included local politicians and public figures in Orlando, leaders of LGBT groups, an advocate for tighter gun controls and a pastor from Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine people were killed by a lone gunman in another mass shooting almost a year ago.
“I am here because of the love shown to us at Mother Emanuel,” said Rev Betty Diaz Clark.
Among the religious leaders to speak at the event was Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida.
“We cannot believe that someone who claims my peaceful faith has brought a massacre, an atrocity to our city, an act of terror, an act of hate,” he said.
“We condemn this act of terrorism and all the acts of terrorism that are done in the name of Islam.”
The crowd held lit candles as the bell at the nearby First United Methodist Church of Orlando rang 49 times - once for each of the victims of Sunday morning’s attack.
Some in the crowd openly wept as the names were read out.
“We are Orlando Strong. We are a tight community and we support each other,” Robert Aviles (40), an estate agent, told The Irish Times explaining the large turnout as he held an “Orlando Strong” sign with a ribbon in the Gay Pride rainbow colours.
“The community has come together during this time of need,” said Justina Oldehoff (28), who attended the vigil with her husband Dan (30).
“We all need to come together and be strong and stand up tall.”
