The gunman who killed 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando may have been motivated by homophobia, his father has told US media.
Details are beginning to emerge about the nightclub shooter, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen.
Mateen, from Port St Lucie in Florida, was shot dead after a three-hour stand-off with police.
He is understood to have been an American citizen, born in New York, of Afghan descent.
He was married, is believed to have had one child and worked as a security officer.
One senior FBI official has said Mateen may have had leanings towards Islamic extremism and Islamic State, however other officials have cautioned that a Islamist motive requires further investigation.
Speaking to NBC News, Mateen's father Mir Seddique said he believed his son's actions were motived by homophobia.
"This had nothing to do with religion," he said.
He said his son recently lashed out in his presence after witnessing a gay couple embracing in downtown Miami.
"He saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry," Mr Seddique said.
He added: "We are saying we are apologising for the whole incident.
"We are in shock like the whole country."
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