The Justice Department released a full, unredacted transcript of the phone call made by Orlando shooter Omar Mateen to 911 on the morning of the attack showing that he did pledge allegiance to the Islamic State and the terrorist group’s leader.
The DOJ called the anger toward the omissions on the original transcript release “an unnecessary distraction from the hard work that the FBI and our law enforcement partners have been doing to investigate this heinous crime.”
In the first version of the transcript, the word “Islamic State” and the name of the terrorist group’s leader, “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,” were omitted.
“I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State,” Mateen says at 2:35 a.m. local time on June 12 on the new transcript.
The DOJ said in a Monday afternoon statement: “As much of this information had been previously reported, we have re-issued the complete transcript to include these references in order to provide the highest level of transparency possible under the circumstances.”
Various Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Florida Gov. Rick Scott, blasted the Obama administration for releasing the 911 transcript with redactions. The DOJ and FBI said it did so to prevent the Islamic State from using the deadly attack as propaganda.
Mateen killed 49 and injured 53 others in the June 12 attack on Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. He later died in a shootout with police.
Below is the new version of the transcript:
Transcript of Orlando Police Department 911 Calls, June 12, 2016
2:35 a.m.: Shooter contacted a 911 operator from inside Pulse. The call lasted approximately 50 seconds, the details of which are set out below:
(OD) Orlando Police Dispatcher
(OM) Omar Mateen
OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.
OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficent [Arabic]
OD: What?
OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [Arabic]. I wanna let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.
OD: What’s your name?
OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.
OD: Ok, What’s your name?
OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.
OD: Alright, where are you at?
OM: In Orlando.
OD: Where in Orlando?
[End of call.]
