The attack is the worst mass shooting in the modern history of the United States.

Here are details of some of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States in the past 25 years:

Florida club: 49 killed

A heavily-armed gunman opens fire inside a nightclub in the city of Orlando on June 12 last year and kills 49 people.

The attacker is killed in a shootout with police; he pledges allegiance to the Islamic State group, which later claims responsibility.

Virginia Tech: 32 killed

A 23-year-old student goes on a rampage at Virginia Tech University in the town of Blacksburg in April. He kills 27 students and five teachers before committing suicide.

Sandy Hook: 26 killed

A disturbed 20-year-old kills his mother in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012 before blasting his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and shooting dead 20 children ages 6 and 7, plus six adults. He commits suicide.

Texas restaurant: 22 dead

In October 1991, a man shoots dead 22 people in a restaurant in the town of Killeen before killing himself.

California office party: 14 dead

A newlywed radicalized couple storm an Christmas office party at a social services center in San Bernardino in December 2015 and gun down 14 people, wounding 22 others. They are shot dead by police.

Fort Hood military base: 13 dead

In November 2009, a US army psychiatrist opens fire at his military base in Killeen, killing 13 people and wounding 42, before being overpowered by police.

New York immigrant center: 13 dead

An immigrant shoots dead 13 people at a civic center in the New York state city of Binghamton in April 2009, before killing himself.

Denver cinema: 12 dead

A young man wearing body armor storms a cinema showing a late-night premiere of a Batman film in Aurora in July 2012, opening fire and releasing tear gas. Twelve people and 70 wounded. He is sentenced to life in prison.

AP - AFP

(China Daily USA 10/03/2017 page2)