The dead Orlando terrorist who murdered at least 50 people at an Orlando nightclub was investigated by the FBI for terror links twice – and was linked to American suicide bomber Moner Abu Salha.
Agents did not charge Omar Mateen on both occasions and concluded he ‘only had minimal contact’ with Florida man Abu Salha who blew himself up for the Al Nusra Front in Syria 2014.
Mateen was also investigated by the FBI for making ‘inflammatory remarks’ to his colleagues alleging that he had terrorist ties – but again no further action was taken.
He kept his job with a global security firm, G4S, and was able to legally buy guns that were used in the worst mass shooting in American history that killed 50 and injured 53 others inside the Orlando gay nightclub.
Mateen ecalled 911 to pledge allegiance to ISIS during the massacre and also praised the Boston bombers.
The Daily Mail reports that it is also claimed that Mateen had connections with a former U.S. Marine and undercover FBI agent turned radical Muslim cleric who was released from jail last year despite warnings that he was recruiting potential terrorists.
Marcus Dwayne Robertson, also known as Abu Taubah, managed to convert 36 people to his poisonous version of Islam during his four years in jail, and was considered so dangerous that he was kept shackled with his own security detail away from other inmates.
Mateen was a member of the Timbuktu Seminary, an educational website run by Robertson that police believe is used to dispense his radical teachings, sources told Fox News.
Robertson and several associates were rounded up for questioning early Sunday, sources added.
After serving as a Marine for six years, Robertson went on to become a bank robber, before turning FBI informant after his arrest in exchange for a short prison sentence.
He was dismissed by the FBI in 2007 after allegedly attacking his CIA handler, and then began preaching Islamic extremism.
Thrown in jail for tax fraud back in 2011, prosecutors attempted to have ten years added to his sentence last year after discovering documents preaching terror among his possessions. However, a judge freed him.