A gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens before being shot dead by police.
The attack began at about 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Pulse, which is one of the biggest nightclubs in Orlando, was holding a Latin-themed event that was nearing its end when a man opened fire. There were more than 300 people inside at the time.
"He had an automatic rifle, so nobody stood a chance," said Jackie Smith, who saw two friends next to her get shot. "I just tried to get out of there."
At 02:09, the nightclub posted on its Facebook page: "Everyone get out of pulse and keep running."
The gunman was carrying an AR-15-type assault rifle and a handgun. He exchanged gunfire with security guards and police officers outside the building before going back inside.
A hostage situation developed and at 05:00 local time (09:00 GMT), officers stormed the building after receiving texts and phone calls from people inside.
The attacker was shot dead in an exchange of fire. Police said there was also a "controlled explosion".
At least 50 people were killed, making it the worst mass shooting in recent US history.
That figure could rise, with at least 53 wounded people taken to hospital.Officials have named the suspect as Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, a city about two hours' drive south of Orlando, in St Lucie County.
His father, Seddique Mateen, said his son became "very angry" after seeing two men kissing in Miami recently.
FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper told reporters that Mateen had been interviewed by FBI officers twice in 2013 following inflammatory comments to colleagues asserting ties to the so-called Islamic State group (IS).
The investigation ended after officers were unable to substantiate the claims. However, Mateen was questioned again in 2014 about a potential connection to Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, an American known to have carried out a suicide bombing in Syria.
Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said that he was violent and mentally unstable and had beaten her repeatedly while they were together.
The group has said it was behind the attack, but the extent of its involvement is not clear.
A statement released by its affiliated Amaq news agency said that an IS "fighter" was responsible.
An FBI spokesman said Mateen phoned emergency services during the attack and pledged allegiance to IS.
The group had called for its supporters to launch attacks on the West during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that began last week.
There were about 320 people inside the club during the shooting, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some have been speaking about what they witnessed.
"All you saw is people running and screaming and there were bodies in the parking lot where bodies were being tagged," Christopher Hansen told CNN. "It was like a scene from a horror movie."
Jon Alamo said he saw a man holding a weapon walking into the room he was in.
"I heard 20, 40, 50 shots, he said. "The music stopped."
US President Barack Obama said this was an act of terror and an act of hate, but authorities were investigating whether there were links to extremist groups.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, called on the president to resign for not using the words "Islamic terrorism".
His Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, said: "To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them.
"We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America."
She also said there was a need to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals.
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