Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Speaks to RT Worldwide Satellite Television: 'Orlando Shooter Was Known by the United States Government'

RT.com

Abayomi Azikiwe, from Pan-African News Wire, shared his opinion on the Orlando case with RT and argues that released transcripts indicate there was a tendency on the part of Mateen to identify with Islamic State.

“He made specific political demands during the course of the 911 call. This also brings back into focus the fact that the FBI had interviewed Matten at least on two occasions, perhaps even more,” he told RT.

Azikiwe  added that the gunman’s employment with a leading private security firm, who counts among his clients the CIA, also raises lot of questions about what the FBI knew about Mateen and “what type of contact and the nature of the contact the FBI had with Mateen.”

“They are trying to deflect attention away from the fact that this individual had been in the purview of the FBI. They had had discussions with him. There had been a pattern of erratic behavior, pronouncements, which indicated that this person was potentially violent,” he said.

“Yet, despite this contact the FBI cleared him of any suspicion that relates to terrorism,” Azikiwe concluded.