America is reeling from the gruesome murder of 49 and injuries to another 53 victims of the terrorist act committed by Omar Mateen at a gay night club in Orlando, Florida. There are many articles and tweets about Mateen’s background but here are some key things to remember about this Islamic terrorist.
- Omar Mateen was born (Omar Mir Seddique) in New York, to Afghan (refugee) parents.
- His father has been involved in post-9/11 Afghan politics from the United States.
- He is purported to be a religious (Muslim) man who regularly attended the Orlando Islamic Centre.
- Mateen was married and then divorced, accused by his ex-wife of abusive behavior.
- He was unabashedly anti-gay but is also believed to be a registered Democrat.
- He was questioned a couple of times by the FBI after making inflammatory comments to co-workers.
- Since 2007, Omar Mateen was employed as a security officer by Homeland Security contractor and global security services company, G4S.
- As part of this job, he passed stringent government background checks (in 2007 and 2013) and was not on any terror watch list.
- Omar Mateen was also licensed and trained by G4S in handling firearms as a security officer (aka private cop).
- He is reported to have called into 911 just before his attack on the Pulse night club and claimed to carrying out his act of terror on behalf of ISIS.
