ISIS claims deadliest mass shooting in American history

A statement published by the Islamic State’s Amaq propaganda agency claimed the gunman who murdered 50 people and injured more than 400 in a shooting attack in Las Vegas was a “soldier of the Islamic State”.

“The Las Vegas attacker is a soldier of the Islamic State in response to calls to target coalition countries,” the statement said. ISIS also claimed the gunman “converted to Islam several months ago”, without providing more details.

There has no evidence in Paddock’s lifestyle that he had any religious affinity or other support for the ISIS claim.

The wording of the communiqué is similar to other terrorist attacks that were inspired, rather than directed, by the Islamist State.