I don’t go to nightclubs. I can’t say I ever did very much in my youth. But everyone who goes for a night out expects to be safe, and expects to return home at the end of the evening. In Orlando on Saturday night fifty gay people lost their lives just because they made the fateful decision to go to the Pulse nightclub. Fifty three others are injured. It is the biggest loss of life in a single incident in America since 9/11. As the families of the dead grieve for their loved ones, the rest of us seek to find answers to seemingly unanswerable questions.

From what we know, the gunman deliberately chose a gay nightclub to attack. We don’t know how much his religion impacted on his decision, but we know he carried it out in the name of Daesh. It was a homophobic attack of massive proportions. No one is to blame, apart from Omar Mateen himself. Just because he was apparently repulsed by the sight of two men kissing, is no justification for his actions.

The incident again raises issues about American gun laws, but let’s face it, if the US didn’t act after Sandy Hook, nothing is going to change after Orlando. President Obama can talk as much as he likes, but without action, this sort of thing will be repeated.

The great fear now is that there will be copycat attacks. Pride takes place in London later this month. I hope the Met is already reviewing its security protocols. But however much security you deploy, whatever measures you take, a lone attacker always stands a good chance of getting through.

Tonight there are going to be vigils in Soho to remember the dead. This was an attack on America’s gay community and it is important that everyone recognises that it’s felt by every single gay man and woman the world over.

At times like this you often find out the mettle of our political leaders. Their reactions tell you an awful lot about them. Here’s Donald Trump…

Is President Obama going to finally mention the words radical Islamic terrorism? If he doesn’t he should immediately resign in disgrace!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016

Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016

I genuinely don’t know how any half intelligent person can support this man’s candidacy.