Omar Mateen’s 911 Calls During Massacre Released

Recordings of the phone calls between Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen and Orlando police dispatchers were released on Monday, showing Omar Mateen speaking nervously about his deadly massacre shortly after he’d begun killing people inside the gay club. “This is Mateen. I want to let you know I’m in Orlando and I did the shooting,” he said in his first call to 911. “I pledge my allegiance to [Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi] of the Islamic State.” In another call, the dispatcher attempts to pry information out of Mateen, who repeatedly made reference to the U.S. bombing of various Muslim countries. “I understand that,” the negotiator said. “Here is why I’m here right now. I’m with the Orlando police. Can you tell me what you know about what’s going on tonight?” When Mateen continued to object to U.S. foreign policy, the negotiator pleaded: “Look, I’m trying to figure out how to keep you safe and how to get this resolved peacefully because I’m not a politician, I’m not a government. All I can do is help individuals and I want to start with helping you.” Later on, towards the end of the massacre, the negotiator called back again, with Mateen scolding the police: “You’re annoying me with these phone calls, and I don’t really appreciate it.” Mateen killed 49 people and injured another 68 during a standoff that lasted nearly four hours. Police shot and killed Mateen as they raided the club shortly after 5 a.m. ET.