DHAKA: A shooting inside a gay nightclub in the Florida city of Orlando has caused mass casualties, police say.

Orlando Police also said in a tweet that the shooter inside the Pulse Club, located in the heart of the city, is now dead, reports the BBC.

A bomb squad and hazardous material team are at the scene, and a controlled explosion was carried out.

Relatives have been gathering at local hospitals desperate for news of their loved ones.

A man who had been inside the club described a situation of chaos outside as the number of casualties became apparent.

‘There were just bodies everywhere,’ he said. ‘In the parking lot, they were tagging them - red, yellow - so they knew who to help first and who not help first. Pants down, shirts cut off, they had to find the bullets. Just blood everywhere’.

Footage from the scene showed dozens of emergency vehicles at the scene and people being treated on the pavements.

The injured were reportedly brought to hospital in police pick-ups as well as ambulances.

One woman said she had received a text message and phone call from her daughter inside the club, who said she had been shot in the arm.

One of the first people to tweet from the scene, local TV reporter Stewart Moore, said earlier the attacker was suspected to have had a bomb, and had taken people hostage. This has not been confirmed by the police.

Witnesses said they heard at least 20 gunshots as the incident unfolded.

BDST: 1716 HRS, JUN 12, 2016
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** Florida nightclub attacked