Full Text of
Omar Mateen's 911 calls

1. 20 June 2016 FBI in Tampa
   
   
2. litigation to compel production of more transcripts
   
   
3. 23 Sep 2016 transcript of police conversation with Mateen
   
   

20 June 2016
FBI in Tampa

On 20 June 2016, the FBI field office in Tampa, Florida released a timeline of Omar Mateen's attack and a transcript of Mateen's first telephone call to 911. The English-language press release is quoted here in its entirety.

In order to provide an update on the progress of the investigation into the Pulse nightclub shooting, the FBI is releasing an excerpt from the timeline of events inside the Pulse nightclub during the early morning hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016. Out of respect for the victims of this horrific tragedy, law enforcement will not be releasing audio of the shooter’s 911 calls at this time, nor will law enforcement be releasing audio or transcripts of the calls made by victims at the Pulse nightclub during the incident. (See joint statement from DOJ.)

The following is based on Orlando Police Department (OPD) radio communication (times are approximate):

• 2:02 a.m.: OPD call transmitted multiple shots fired at Pulse nightclub.
• 2:04 a.m.: Additional OPD officers arrived on scene.
• 2:08 a.m.: Officers from various law enforcement agencies made entrance to Pulse and engaged the shooter.
• 2:18 a.m.: OPD SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) initiated a full call-out.
• 2:35 a.m.: Shooter contacted a 911 operator from inside Pulse. The call lasted approximately 50 seconds, the details of which are set out below:

Orlando Police Dispatcher (OD)
Omar Mateen (OM)

OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.
OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficent [Arabic]
OD: What?
OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [Arabic]. I wanna let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.
OD: What’s your name?
OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.
OD: Ok, What’s your name?
OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him, on behalf of the Islamic State.
OD: Alright, where are you at?
OM: In Orlando.
OD: Where in Orlando?
[End of call.]

(Shortly thereafter, the shooter engaged in three conversations with OPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team.)

• 2:48 a.m.: First crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately nine minutes.
• 3:03 a.m.: Second crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately 16 minutes.
• 3:24 a.m.: Third crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately three minutes.

In these calls, the shooter, who identified himself as an Islamic soldier, told the crisis negotiator that he was the person who pledged his allegiance to [Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi], and told the negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq and that is why he was “out here right now.” When the crisis negotiator asked the shooter what he had done, the shooter stated, “No, you already know what I did.” The shooter continued, stating, “There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and I’m gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid.” Later in the call with the crisis negotiator, the shooter stated that he had a vest, and further described it as the kind they “used in France.” The shooter later stated, “In the next few days, you’re going to see more of this type of action going on.” The shooter hung up and multiple attempts to get in touch with him were unsuccessful.

• 4:21 a.m.: OPD pulled an air conditioning unit out of a Pulse dressing room window for victims to evacuate.

(While the FBI will not be releasing transcripts of OPD communication with victims, significant information obtained from those victims allowed OPD to gain knowledge of the situation inside Pulse.)

• 4:29 a.m.: As victims were being rescued, they told OPD the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes.
  

(An immediate search of the shooter’s vehicle on scene and inside Pulse ultimately revealed no vest or improvised explosive device.)

• 5:02 a.m.: OPD SWAT and OCSO Hazardous Device Team began to breach wall with explosive charge and armored vehicle to make entry.
  
• 5:14 a.m.: OPD radio communication stated that shots were fired.
  
• 5:15 a.m.: OPD radio communication stated that OPD engaged the suspect and the suspect was reported down.
  

Based on OPD radio communications, there were no reports of shots being fired inside Pulse between the initial exchange of gunfire between responding officers and shooter, and the time of the final breach. During this time, the shooter communicated with an OPD 911 operator and an OPD crisis negotiator, and OPD radio communications reported that victims were being rescued.

"Investigative Update Regarding Pulse Nightclub Shooting," FBI Tampa, 20 June 2016.

More transcripts ?

Police Negotiator & Mateen
from 02:48 to 03:25 on 12 June 2016

FIRST NEGOTIATION — Sunday June 12, 2016. The time 2:48 a.m.

NEGOTIATOR: 0247.
SUSPECT: Hello.
NEGOTIATOR: Hello, there. Hi there, there is Orlando Police. Who am I speaking with, please?
SUSPECT: You're speaking to the person who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of (unidentified name).
NEGOTIATOR: Can you tell me where you are right now so I can you get some help?
SUSPECT: No. Because you have to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. They are killing a lot of innocent people. What am I to do here when my people are getting killed over there. You get what I'm saying?
NEGOTIATOR: I do. I completely get what you're saying. What I'm trying to do is prevent anybody else from getting —
SUSPECT: You need to stop the U.S. air strikes. They need to stop the U.S. air strikes, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: I understand.
SUSPECT: They need to stop the U.S. air strikes. You have to tell the U.S. government to [page 2 of 7] stop bombing. They are killing too many children, they are killing too many women, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: I understand that. 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?
SUSPECT: What's going on is that I feel the pain of the people getting killed in Syria and Iraq and all over the Muslim (unidentified word).
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. So have you done something about that?
SUSPECT: Yes, I have.
NEGOTIATOR: Tell me what you did, please.
SUSPECT: You already know what I did.
NEGOTIATOR: 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.
SUSPECT: By the way, there is some vehicles outside that have some bombs just to let you know. Your people are going to get it and I'm going to ignite it if they try to do anything stupid.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. I understand that and [page 3] I'll pass that along. Can you tell me what vehicle? Because I don't want to see anybody get hurt.
SUSPECT: No. But I'll tell you this, they can take out a whole city block almost.
NEGOTIATOR: I understand that. Tell me, in the club do you have any injured people with you that you brought with you?
SUSPECT: I'm not — I'm not letting you know nothing.
NEGOTIATOR: I'm trying to offer you help.
SUSPECT: Well, you need to know that they need to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. The U.S. is collaborating with Russia and they are killing innocent women and children, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: I hear what you're saying.
SUSPECT: My homeboy Tamerlan Tsarnaev did his thing on the Boston Marathon, my homeboy (unidentified name) did his thing, okay, so now it's my turn, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Let's start. My name is Andy. What's yours?
SUSPECT: My name is Islamic soldier, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. What can I call you?
SUSPECT: Call me Mujahideen, call me the [page 4] Soldier of the God.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Okay. So that's a lot for me to say, so can I just — can I just call you something else? Do you have a name, a nickname?
SUSPECT: Just to let you know —
NEGOTIATOR: I'm here. I'm listening. I'm here, I'm listening.
SUSPECT: It's the last month of the Ramadan if you ever know about that.
NEGOTIATOR: Yes, I do. I understand.
SUSPECT: I fasted the whole day today. I fasted the whole day and I prayed.
NEGOTIATOR: I understand that. Okay. What I'm trying to do is make sure that you and no one else suffers any further injury, okay? I can help you.
SUSPECT: I have a vest.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. You have a vest. I understand that. Okay. And so what kind of vest are you talking about? Is it a bullet-resistant vest? Is it a bomb vest?
SUSPECT: No. It's what they used in France.
NEGOTIATOR: It's what they used in France.
[page 5]
SUSPECT: I got to go.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, I'd like you to stay on the phone with me please, okay? Are you there? Please stay on the phone with me so I can help pass along your concerns.
SUSPECT: If you bring the bomb dog they are not going to smell shit.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, I understand that.
SUSPECT: You can't smell it. Bring your little American bomb dog, they are fucking outdated anyway.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, tell me, I presume from what you're saying you're wearing a bomb vest?
SUSPECT: No.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, you said you're wearing a vest.
SUSPECT: No, I'm not.
NEGOTIATOR: So what are you wearing?
SUSPECT: Yeah, like, you know, to go out to go out to a wedding.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. I'm not trying to joke with you, I'm trying to be serious and get this peacefully resolved. Okay? So are you wearing a bomb vest?

Okay. What can I call you? Let's go back [page 6] to that. Let start with that. Okay. I understand you're a soldier, I understand you're an Isis, I understand you're Mujahideen and you pledge your allegiance to someone whose name I can't pronounce. I apologize for that, okay? Can you start with that? Are you an American citizen? Are you a local citizen? Are you a resident of Orlando?

Hello? Are you there? I'm right here. You need to talk to me. You have to talk to me.

I'm still here. Are you there? Talk to me please. Are you there? Sir, are you there? We need to talk. We need to try to resolve this peacefully. I don't want to see you or anybody else get injured. Please help us.

So you say there's a vehicle outside with a bomb. Is there more than one vehicle? Are there other shooters? Tell me what's going on, please. Tell me what's going on. I'm here. I'm listening. I'm here, I'm listening.

Sunday June 12, 2016, the time 2:56 a.m.

NEGOTIATOR: I'm still here. I'm trying to help you. Okay? I need some help from you. We need to get this resolved peacefully. And we need [page 7] your help to do that. I know you want to get this resolved peacefully.

I'm listening, but you need to talk to me. I need you to talk to me. This is a serious matter and I want to take it seriously and I want to listen to what you have to say, but I can't do that if it's a one-sided conversation. Are you there? (End)

SECOND NEGOTIATION

NEGOTIATOR: Hello.
SUSPECT: Hello.
NEGOTIATOR: Hi there, there is Orlando Police calling you back.
SUSPECT: (Inaudible)
NEGOTIATOR: I'm sorry, again, my name is Andy, what's yours?
SUSPECT: Andy.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Tell me what's going on right now, because I'm not there. I'm trying to help you. Okay? I'm trying to help you. Tell me what's going on right now. I don't want to see anybody get injured including you.

So let's start. Are you injured? Sir, are you injured? I'm trying to help you. I don't want to see this go further. Please let us peacefully resolve it with your assistance. Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Hello? Can you hear me? This is Andy from Orlando Police. Are you there?

(Ringing) Please leave your message for 772 —
(Ringing) Please leave your message for 77 —
(Ringing) Please leave your message for 7 —

[page 2]

(Ringing) Please leave your message— (Ringing).
SUSPECT: Hello.
NEGOTIATOR: Hello, Omar. This is Andy from Orlando Police.
SUSPECT: Mm-hmm.
NEGOTIATOR: Tell me what's going on right now, Omar.
SUSPECT: Yo, the air strike that killed Abu Wahid a few weeks ago —
NEGOTIATOR: Okay.
SUSPECT: That's what triggered it, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: Okay.
SUSPECT: They should have not bombed and killed Abu Wahid.
NEGOTIATOR: I understand.
SUSPECT: Do your fucking homework and figure out who Abu Wahid is, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: I understand that. What I need to find out is are you injured? Omar?
SUSPECT: That's none of your business.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, I understand that, but if you're injured I want to get you some help.
SUSPECT: No.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Do you have somebody [page 3] with you?
SUSPECT: That's none of your business.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Tell me what you want me to pass along. Because I can't sit here and do research. I want to pass along "Tell them to stop bombing in Syria."
SUSPECT: Yes. The air strikes need to stop and stop collaborating with Russia. Okay?
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. I can pass that along.
SUSPECT: And let it be known, let it be known in the next few days you're going to see more of this type of action going on, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. I understand that. I can pass that along. Where is that going to happen?
SUSPECT: It's none of your business. Just let it be known it's going to be done in the name of the Islamic State, even though it's not fucking air strikes, it's fucking strikes here, okay?
NEGOTIATOR: I understand that. I understand that. So tell me what happened tonight? How did this go down for you?
SUSPECT: This went down, a lot of innocent women and children are getting killed in Syria and Iraq and Afghanistan, okay?
[page 4]
NEGOTIATOR: I understand that. You're upset about the bombing in Syria and Afghanistan and you want the bombing and the killing to stop. I understand your concern. I share that concern. I want to pass your message along. Tell me what else you'd like me to pass along, please.
SUSPECT: To stop, tell them to stop.
NEGOTIATOR: I will do that. I will do that. So can you tell me how we can peacefully resolve this tonight? I'd like to see you come out, I'd like to talk to you some more.
SUSPECT: Tell — tell the fucking — the air strikes need to stop.
NEGOTIATOR: I'm doing that. I'm passing that message along, immediately.
SUSPECT: You see, now you feel, now you feel how it is, now you feel how it is.
NEGOTIATOR: I understand your concern, Omar. Do you have somebody that you brought with you that we need to check on and make sure they are not injured?
SUSPECT: No. No. No. No. No. No, Mr. Hostage Negotiator, don't try your bullshit with me.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, I'm trying to help you.
[page 5]
And you don't want people to get injured, I presume that means if you brought somebody with you, you don't want them hurt. Is that correct?
SUSPECT: None of your business, homeboy.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Omar, can I get you to come outside and talk to my people there at the scene so we can peacefully resolve this?
SUSPECT: No.
NEGOTIATOR: Okay. Because I'm not there, but I have people there that would love to talk to you. Can you put down your weapon and come down outside and talk to them, please?
SUSPECT: You want to know what type of weapon I have too?
NEGOTIATOR: If you want to tell me.
SUSPECT: Or you want to know how many weapons I have?
NEGOTIATOR: I can take that too. I'm all ears, Omar. I have no agenda other than to help you pass along this message.
SUSPECT: So what year — so what year did you graduate from the police academy?
NEGOTIATOR: I'm sorry?
SUSPECT: What year did you graduate from the police academy?
[page 6]

NEGOTIATOR: Sir, this is about you, okay? I'm here to help you. I'm here to pass along your information. Okay? You don't want to know ancient history about me. Tell me how I can help you.

You asked me do I want to know about weapons? Sure, tell me about your weapons. Omar? I'm trying to help you. I can't do that if you won't give me something to pass along to the people that are in power which is I presume what you want to happen out of all of this. I don't want to see you or any of your associates get hurt, I don't want to see anybody else get hurt in the United States or anywhere else around the world. So tell me how you and I can work together to get this peacefully resolved now.

Omar? Omar, you get to talk to me. Omar? Listen to me, I don't want to see you get injured. Omar, can you hear me?

Are you there? Omar? You and I have to talk. We have to work together. Omar, I need to pass along what your concerns are. Omar?

(Ringing) I got 0315. Please leave message for —
(Ringing) Please leave your message for —

[page 7]

NEGOTIATOR: Ringing, 0316. One ring.
SUSPECT: Hello?
NEGOTIATOR: Omar? Listen, this is Andy from the police again. I don't want to mess up your message. You come out and you can tell it yourself. I'll arrange media or whatever you want. It's got to be a first step.
SUSPECT: Look, you're annoying me with a lot of your phone calls. I call you (inaudible).
NEGOTIATOR: Well, I understand that, but obviously, you know, it's my job, I need to be in contact with you. I'm your communication lifeline to everyone that's outside. I'm trying to pass along your message and I don't want to screw that message up.

You tell me you don't want people to get hurt, I presume that includes you. Tell me your message and I will pass that along. You don't want the bombings. Tell me about it. I'll write it down.

Omar? Omar, please talk to me. I want to get your message out. I want to pass along what you have to say. I can't do that if you won't talk to me.
(End)

THIRD NEGOTIATION

(Ringing).
NEGOTIATOR: Omar.
SUSPECT: Yeah?
NEGOTIATOR: What's going on? I couldn't get ahold of you for a while.
SUSPECT: You're annoying me with these phone calls and I don't really appreciate it.
NEGOTIATOR: Well, I understand that, but the fact that you appreciate it or not doesn't matter at this point. We need to talk and we need to stay —
SUSPECT: Don't say things likes that, no. No. No. No. No. No. No.
NEGOTIATOR: No, I'm treating you like an adult. We need to stay in constant contact.
SUSPECT: No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
NEGOTIATOR: Tell me what's going on now, Omar?
SUSPECT: What's going on is strikes need to stop.
NEGOTIATOR: Yes.
SUSPECT: They need to stop.
NEGOTIATOR: The air strikes need to stop.
SUSPECT: They need to stop killing people.

[page 2]

NEGOTIATOR: I've heard that and I want you to come outside and tell us that yourself so the message rings true from you without me passing along your message. I'm doing that, but I need you to come outside with no weapons.
Omar? Hang up, 3:25.
(Ringing).
(End)