Orlando shootings: Tens of thousands attend candlelight vigil

Tens of thousands of people took part in a candlelight vigil in downtown Orlando to remember victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub on Sunday, June 12th.

On stage, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer yesterday thanked first responders to the attack and told survivors and victims' families that the city's community would support the. "We will not be defined by the hate-filled act of a deranged killer," local television station News 13 reported him as saying.

Orlando's tourism agency estimated that some 50,000 people turned out for the vigil on the shore of Lake Eola to honour the victims of the attack at Pulse nightclub, the deadliest mass shooting in US history. The crowd observed a moment of silence after organisers and officials read aloud the names of the attack's 49 victims.

Another 53 people were wounded when 29-year-old Omar Mateen - born in the United States to Afghan parents - ran amok armed with a legally bought assault rifle. Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group during the attack, was killed during a police raid.

Florida Governor Rick Scott and other officials attended yesterday's vigil, which began around 7:30 PM (0500 IST). People carried rainbow flags, American flags and white flowers and frequently cheered the event's speakers.

Rod Lynn, who attended the vigil, said he hoped the massacre would help force change. "Many times it takes a catalyst like this to initiate a more progressive type movement," he told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. "No one deserves what happened. This kind of thing needs to stop," he added.

Earlier, a memorial service was organised at the nearby Cathedral Church of St. Luke, and funerals have been taking place over the weekend.

The authorities are set to release, on Monday, "limited transcripts" of telephone negotiations between Mateen and police during the attack, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said.