Father of Orlando Killer Speaks Out, Blames Club for ‘Sloppy Security’

Seddique Mateen, the father of the killer responsible for slaughtering 49 people in an Orlando gay nightclub last weekend, spoke out Wednesday morning to decry both the “killer group” ISIS but also the club Pulse for its “sloppy security.”

In a speech to reporters, Mateen offered his apologies to the nation, blamed the radicalizing effect of ISIS, and said he had no idea that his son had come under the sway of “this horrible, terrible killer group.” ISIS, he said, was “bad news for humanity.”

But he also blasted the club where the attack took place for having insufficient security. “They should have enough security when 300 or 400 people come to the business,” he said. “Maybe they had some kind of sloppy security,” he added, suggesting that they had been trying to save money. Pulse should have had a 24-hour armed guard, he said.

“Because of ISIS I lost my son, and the other families, they lost their loved ones, all to this terrible terrorist group,” he said.

“I’m really speechless what he did. I don’t forgive him as a father,” Mateen told CNN Tuesday. “I wish I had an opportunity to talk to him about why he did what he did.”

“God bless America,” he concluded. “God bless you all.”

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!