Donald Trump calls Las Vegas attack as 'an act of pure evil'

NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump condemned the largest mass shooting in US history as an "act of pure evil" and said the nation was "joined together in sadness, shock and grief" after more than 50 people were gunned down and over 400 left injured in Las Vegas.

"In moments of horror, America comes together as one. It always has," Trump said, adding, "Though we feel such great anger ... it is our love that defines us today, and always will, forever."

He called on the nation to pray for the victims.

"We cannot fathom their pain, we cannot imagine their loss," he said.

He also said that he would be in Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with families and survivors.

Earlier in the day, Trump tweeted his "warmest condolences and sympathies" for the victims.


Meanwhile, the White House ordered flags to be flown at half staff until sunset on October 6.

Trump spoke hours after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a Vegas Strip casino unleashed a hail of bullets on an outdoor country music festival below. The gunman was later identified as Stephen Craig Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada. He had checked into the hotel room on Thursday, authorities said.