Orlando shooting + terrorism thread
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-mateen-steroid-hiv-20160715-snap-story.html'><strong>Orlando gunman was HIV-negative, likely a long-term steroid user, autopsy shows</strong></a><br><br>
The autopsy of the gunman who massacred 49 people in a Florida nightclub attack last month revealed he was HIV-negative and likely a long-term user of steroids, two U.S. law enforcement officials said.<br><br>
The revelation comes as FBI agents continue to scour the background of Omar Mateen for clues as to why he launched his June 12 rampage at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.<br><br>
The 29-year-old had became radicalized in recent years, FBI officials have said, and pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants during his attack.<br><br>
Federal investigators are not sure if steroids played a role in the shooting. A medical examiner found evidence of physical changes to Mateen’s body that were consistent with long-term steroid use, the officials said, and is seeking to confirm that assessment through further testing.<br><br>
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports on its website that using high doses of steroids, which help build body mass and muscle, “increase irritability and aggression. Some steroid abusers report that they have committed aggressive acts, such as physical fighting or armed robbery, theft, vandalism, or burglary.â€<br><br>
A spokeswoman for the Orange County, Fla. medical examiner declined to comment on the preliminary findings.<br><br>
“Whether or not an individual used steroids can be determined through specimen tests,†Carrie Proudfit, the spokeswoman wrote in an email. “Toxicology reports would reflect those results. They'll be made available to law enforcement.â€<br><br>
Proudfit referred further questions to the FBI. Bureau spokeswoman Carol Cratty declined to comment.<br><br>
The results, if confirmed through further testing, would not be entirely surprising. Mateen’s ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, told reporters shortly after the shooting that the former security guard had a history of steroid use. A former coworker of Mateen’s told CBS News that the gunman told him in 2006 that he had started using steroids.<br><br>
The law enforcement officials also disclosed that the autopsy determined that Mateen was HIV-negative.<br><br>
On June 21, Spanish-language television network Univision aired a report in which “Miguel,†a man wearing a disguise to conceal his identity, alleged that he had sex with Mateen after meeting him on a gay dating app. Miguel said Mateen had sex with other men too, including a threesome with a Puerto Rican who allegedly told Mateen, after having had unprotected sex with him, that he was HIV-positive.<br><br>
Several Pulse regulars have also come forward, claiming to have seen Mateen at the club or to have been contacted by him on the gay dating apps Grindr, Jack'd and Adam4Adam.<br><br>
The FBI, however, has been unable to find evidence to corroborate such claims. Agents have failed to find any photographs, text messages, smartphone apps, gay pornography or cell-tower location data that suggest that Mateen -- who was twice married to women and had a young son -- had a secret gay life, law enforcement officials have told The Times.</p>
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Seems like that situation in NY is barreling along, with the suspect resisting arrest this morning. and so a shoot out. He survived though.
I walked right by the location of that blast in June, and bought drinks (to try and cure my significant hangover) from the corner store you see on the footage.
It's a very strange location for an act of terrorism though, considering it's only a couple of blocks from the Flat Iron building, and a lot more people.
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In two separate cases, thieves snatching bags from city streets and train stations inadvertently helped law enforcement get the upper hand in an ongoing bomb spree that's hurt dozens of people and spans both sides of the Hudson River, sources said.
The day Ahmad Khan Rahami allegedly planted two bombs in Chelsea — one of which detonated on West 23rd Street — two thieves accidentally helped to disable his second pressure cooker bomb left inside a rolling suitcase on West 27th Street, sources said.
The young men, who sources described as being well-dressed, opened the bag and took the bomb out, sources said, before placing the explosive into a garbage bag and walking away with the rolling suitcase.
"Once they picked up the bag, they seemed incredulous. They had actually picked this up off the street and they walked off with it," according to Robert Boyce, the NYPD's Chief of Detectives.
"They look like they were two gentlemen just strolling up and down Seventh Avenue at the time," Boyce added.
Investigators believe they inadvertently disabled the explosive, sources said.
"It’s difficult to say right now if they at all, inadvertently perhaps even, pulled a wire," Boyce said.
Since the bomb remained intact, it allowed investigators to examine the cellphone attached to the bomb intact and discover that it was connected to the family of Rahami.
From there, they were able to identify pictures on social media of Rahami's family and of him, and they matched one of his photos to surveillance footage captured in Manhattan.
They also found a website where Rahami allegedly posted jihadist missives, sources said.
Rahami, who was born in Afghanistan but lived in Elizabeth, N.J., had deposited the second bomb about four blocks away from the one that detonated and wounded 29 people on West 23rd Street, police said.
"Who in this world finds a pressure cooker with a phone and just takes the bag?" a law enforcement source said.
The two men are not believed to be involved in the terror plot, but investigators still want to speak to them.
"We’re considering them witnesses right now. ... We’ll put their images out and hopefully get them identified," Boyce said.
Then, on Sunday night, two homeless men snatched a backpack resting atop a trash can near a train station in Elizabeth, N.J., officials said.
“They probably thought there was something of value in that backpack,” said the mayor of Elizabeth, Christian Bollwage.
They started rooting through the bag and found five explosives that officials say are tied to Rahami, prompting them to immediately drop the bag in the middle of the street and alert police, officials said.
"When they opened it up and found the wire and the pipe they immediately walked around the other corner to Elizabeth police headquarters and turned it in," Bollwage said.
“People go through life on the edge in a very difficult position yet they probably saved hundreds of lives,” the mayor added.
Investigators believe Rahami left the bomb in the Elizabeth train station "probably to get rid of the evidence" because it lacked any detonators like those used for the Chelsea devices, according to Bollwage.
"That bomb package, we speculate, was being thrown away as opposed to being set for further harm," Bollwage said.
Investigators believe Rahami also planted a bomb in Seaside Park, N.J., which exploded without injuring anyone Saturday, according to the New Jersey State Police.
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@Catogrande said in Orlando shooting + terrorism thread:
@NTA Reminds me a bit of the times in London when the IRA bombings were going on - all the rubbish bins were taken away to prevent the hiding of IEDs. All left luggage was treated as suss.
My favourite from that era was the 1996 bus bombing on the Aldwych. 10pm sunday night a london bus blew up. No warning (the IRA normally phoned one in).
Turned out it was a bomb meant for the law courts. The bomber was on the bus with the bomb deliving it to go off at 10am Monday morning. He'd used an very inconspicuous transport mode & a quiet time to plant it (late Sunday night).
Only he'd accidentally set it for 10pm, not 10am. Then sat it on his lap.
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