Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to the President, government and people of the United States of America for the death of at least 50 American citizens caught in a horrific shooting incident by a gunman in Orlando, Florida.
Early Sunday, June 12, 2016, an American-born, Omar Mateen, gunned down 49 people and injured 53 others at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, which has become the deadliest mass shooting in the United States and the nation’s worst terror attack since 9/11.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to His Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, the Liberian leader extended, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name especially to the families of the victims, deepest condolences for this irreparable loss as she wished for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
“We received with shock and sadness news of the gruesome murder of at least 50 persons and injury of 53 others in a shootout on the morning of Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Florida,” President Sirleaf indicated.
“As we reflect on this horrific act of cruelty, we reserve no hesitation to condemn all acts with semblance of terrorism and support international efforts to, as a matter of priority, stop this scourge.”
The Liberian leader hoped that as the people of the United States go through this difficult period of national mourning, she prayed that Almighty God will grant President Obama and the people of the United States strength, courage and fortitude.
On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters at the White House, said it appeared the attack was “an example of the kind of homegrown extremism that all of us have been concerned about,” with a gunman who was inspired by radical material he found online.
Even as American military forces and intelligence agencies attack the Islamic State and other extremist groups, Mr. Obama said, “one of the biggest challenges we are going to have is this kind of propaganda and perversions of Islam that you see generated on the internet.”
New information also emerged Monday on Mr. Mateen, including frightening statements he made three years ago to co-workers at a local courthouse about being tied to terrorism, and that the resulting FBI investigation was extensive, lasting 10 months.