Notts police chief brands Orlando massacre 'hateful'

Nottinghamshire's chief police officer, Sue Fish, has made a stand with victims of the Orlando massacre. Pictured at IDAHO Day 2015 in Nottingham.

Deputy Chief Constable Sue Fish, the acting head of Nottinghamshire Police said in a statement that the force was 'deeply saddened' by the events on Sunday morning.

She said the force joined mourners around the world. She added: "Today we stand with Orlando and our thoughts are with the victims of this senseless and hateful crime."

Ms Fish has long been a supporter of Nottinghamshire's LBGT community and said our own diverse culture has proved time and time again that hate crime isn't welcome in the county.

She said: "Nottinghamshire’s wonderfully diverse communities will not stand for hate crime, and the poignancy of events such as IDAHOT and Nottingham Pride could not be more evident.”

Candlit vigils have been made around the globe with international monuments illuminated in the multicoloured bands of the Pride movement.

Gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people at an LGBT club in Orlando called Pulse on Sunday.

He opened fire on the packed crowd before engaging with police outside, and then re-entering the club to take hostages.

American police shot him dead after he barricaded himself in a bathroom with several hostages.

The BBC reported that 29-year-Omar Mateeen, a US citizen, was known to the FBI since 2013 and 'appeared to have leanings towards radical Islamist ideology'.