Court hears that wife of Orlando Pulse shooter knew about attack before it happened
A California court has heard that the wife of Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, knew of the attack before it took place.
An indictment unsealed on Tuesday indicated that Noor Salman “did knowingly aid and abet” her husband’s planning of the attack which killed 49 and injured dozens more.
The indictment also suggested she knew of his plans to support the Islamic State group through the attack.
Salman, who was arrested by the FBI on Sunday, is also accused of misleading authorities including the FBI on the day of the attack.
“She knew he was going to conduct the attack,” federal prosecutor Roger Handberg said in court.
But her family insists she is innocent and that she is a victim in the incident.
Salman’s uncle Al Salman said that the 30-year-old was “simple and innocent”, and that she had been abused by Mateen.
As well as Al Salman defending his niece outside the court, her lawyer insisted that she had no knowledge of the attack.
Her lawyer also argued that she should be released from jail pending trial.
At least 49 people were killed and 53 were injured in the shooting at the Pulse gay club in Orlando.
With more than a hundred dead or injured, the mass shooting was the worst in American history.
The perpetrator Omar Mateen died in the attack – but it since reportedly emerged that his wife was aware of his plans.
NBC News reported previously: “Omar Mateen’s current wife, Noor, told the FBI she was with him when he bought ammunition and a holster, several officials familiar with the case said.
“She told the FBI that she once drove him to the gay nightclub, Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out.”
Mateen’s ex-wife Sitora Yusufiy has condemned him in the media.
