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Video: DOJ Releases Redacted Transcript of 911 Calls from Orlando Nightclub Terrorist

The Department of Justice today released redacted transcripts of Omar Mateen’s calls to Orlando Police — made during his assault on the Pulse gay nightclub — that included Mateen’s claim of responsibility, as well as identifying himself to police as an Islamic soldier. But all other references to ISIS or Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi were scrubbed clean by the DOJ.

June 20, 2016
Video: DOJ Releases Redacted Transcript of 911 Calls from Orlando Nightclub Terrorist

 

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The Department of Justice today released redacted transcripts of Omar Mateen’s calls to Orlando Police — made during his assault on the Pulse gay nightclub — that included Mateen’s claim of responsibility, as well as identifying himself to police as an Islamic soldier. But all other references to ISIS or Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi were scrubbed clean by the DOJ.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called on the Obama administration Monday to "release the full, unredacted transcript" of the Orlando massacre gunman’s 911 calls, slamming the Justice Department’s censoring of all references to Islam as "preposterous."

"Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous," said Ryan, R-Wis., in a statement. "We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why."

The transcript of calls with crisis negotiators may explain why officials waited three hours -- until 5:14 a.m. -- before ramming a hole in the side of the club to free hostages and engage Mateen in a final, deadly fight. During those three hours, Mateen was holed up in a bathroom with several hostages, though authorities have said no gun shots were fired during this period.

The summary shows that Mateen told negotiators he had a "vehicle outside that has some bombs. Just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and I'm gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid," Fox News reports.

Mateen claimed he had an explosive vest similar to the kind used by terrorists "in France," referencing the November terror attack in Paris.

His claims of having explosives proved to be false.


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