Florida’s senior senator said that intelligence officials believe there is some connection between the Islamic State and the perpetrator of the mass Orlando nightclub shooting, although the motive is still being investigated.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said during a press conference Saturday that Intelligence Committee staff told him that the shooter Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State at some point.
Nelson’s comments come as the FBI has said it is investigating the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., as a possible act of Islamist terrorism.
Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for the city of Orlando.
