[Bus Insider] The Orlando nightclub gunman traveled to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates between 2011 and 2012 for the Muslim religious pilgrimage known as Umrah, CNN's Jim Sciutto reported Monday."Orlando shooter traveled to Saudi Arabia and UAE in 2011-12, US official tells me," Sciutto tweeted. "Saudi Arabia interior ministry adds that he went for the Umrah, the lesser religious pilgrimage that can take place any time of year."
The shooter, identified as Omar Mateen, killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in central Orlando early Sunday morning. Mateen called 911 sometime during his rampage and pledged allegiance to ISIS, mentioning the Boston Marathon bombers during the call.
The ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq News broadcast a claim of responsibility from the terror group for the rampage late Sunday afternoon.