‘Terror’ label may obscure real causes of Orlando shooting

It’s unlikely that Omar Mateen, who killed 50 people in a nightclub at the weekend, was directly linked to IS. Lack of gun control and mental illness may be factors, says Peter Apps

US President Barack Obama is calling the slaughter at a gay nightclub in Orlando an “act of terror and hate”. According to a militant-affiliated news agency, Islamic State claims the attack was carried out by “one of its fighters”.

Much remains unclear about the attack, the deadliest on US soil since 9/11. But the threat is different to that of 15 years ago, and talk of labels misses the point.