The Justice Department has released the transcript of Omar Mateen’s phone call with Orlando police after he opened fire in a gay nightclub, which Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Monday will help people understand Mateen’s motives.
Despite explicit statements from Mateen — a Muslim terrorist — that he was inspired to carry out the shooting on behalf of the Islamic State, and a history of threatening violence based on Islam, as well as revelation that he was the subject of two FBI investigations for suspected terrorist ties, some still question his motives.
Read the brief transcript below and decide for yourself:
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.]
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