Michael Hernandez
20 June 2016•Update: 21 June 2016
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
The alleged gunman in a deadly massacre at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, threatened to put bomb vests on hostages, according to partially redacted transcripts of the shooter’s calls released Monday by the FBI.
Omar Mateen also said he left a bomb in a car outside the Pulse nightclub.
"You people are gonna get it, and I’m gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid," Mateen said in the transcript.
No vests or improvised explosive devices were found.
Mateen identified himself as an “Islamic soldier” and demanded the U.S. stop bombing Iraq and Syria while speaking to a police negotiator, according to the FBI.
“In the next few days, you’re going to see more of this type of action going on,” Mateen said during a series of three phone calls with the negotiator.
The transcripts originally omitted the shooter’s name, and the group to which he pledged allegiance.
But under pressure from the public, the FBI relented saying in a joint statement with the Justice Department that the redactions caused "an unnecessary distraction."
The transcripts quote Mateen telling a 911 operator "I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.
"I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State," he said during the roughly 50-second call.
When asked why the redactions were originally made, FBI spokesman Ron Hopper told reporters, "we're not going to propagate violent rhetoric that comes from other people whether they be here or overseas, and to do that would only inflame other people here that might be like-minded."
Hopper added there is no evidence Mateen was directed to carry out the attack by any terror group, and was likely self-radicalized.
Questions have continued to mount over Mateen's motives, and Hopper said that the FBI is looking into "a myriad of things" that may have motivated Mateen.
The FBI is also investigating claims that Mateen was gay, according to Hopper.
