FOX NEWS - The relationship between Orlando terrorist Omar Mateen and an American suicide bomber in Syria was much “deeper” than previously understood by federal investigators, according to a government source.
Fox News was told the relationship as well as the Mateen case in general are "very complex" but would not go further, citing the sensitivity of the FBI investigation and classified information. The source said the bomber's return to Florida in 2013 is under fresh scrutiny as well.
Mateen’s name surfaced twice for FBI investigators in the run-up to the attack. After the first, full FBI investigation of Mateen concluded in March 2014, his name surfaced two months later in a second, separate FBI investigation of American suicide bomber Moner Abu-Salha -- who drove 16 tons of explosives into a Syrian government facility on behalf of Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in late May of that year. The men had attended the same Eastern Florida mosque, however, the FBI determined the association was minimal.
FBI Director James Comey told reporters Monday a witness had identified Mateen to the FBI during their investigation of Abu-Salha and claimed Mateen was watching videos from the American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, an Al Qaeda terrorist targeted for death by the CIA in 2011.