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Father of Orlando gunman known for rambling political videos

In this photo made from video, Seddique Mir Mateen speaks to reporters about his son Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American-born Muslim, the killer, who died in a gun battle early Sunday with a SWAT team, Monday, June 13, 2016, at his home in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The last of the bodies were removed from an Orlando gay nightclub overnight as investigators dug into the background of the gunman, who called 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack that left 49 victims dead. (AP Photo/APTN)
In this photo made from video, Seddique Mir Mateen speaks to reporters about his son Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American-born Muslim, the killer, who died in a gun battle early Sunday with a SWAT team, Monday, June 13, 2016, at his home in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The last of the bodies were removed from an Orlando gay nightclub overnight as investigators dug into the background of the gunman, who called 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack that left 49 victims dead. (AP Photo/APTN) In this photo made from video, Seddique Mir Mateen speaks to reporters about his son Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American-born Muslim, the killer, who died in a gun battle early Sunday with a SWAT team, Monday, June 13, 2016, at his home in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The last of the bodies were removed from an Orlando gay nightclub overnight as investigators dug into the background of the gunman, who called 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack that left 49 victims dead. (AP Photo/APTN)

By Associated Press 5 min read

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The father of the Orlando nightclub gunman came to the U.S. from Afghanistan more than 30 years ago and has made a series of rambling political videos about his former homeland, even once describing himself as its “revolutionary president.”

Seddique Mir Mateen maintained a high profile on social media in the U.S., but is a mystery to Afghan authorities. Some government departments ran background and security checks Monday and found no trace of him, an official said.

Mateen met with reporters Monday at his home in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and called the massacre by his son, Omar Mateen, “the act of a terrorist.”

The deadly weekend attack shocked the family, the father said, and went against what he had taught his son. The elder Mateen also said that if he had known what the 29-year-old was planning, he would have arrested him himself.

In a Facebook video posted after the killings, Mateen said: “I don’t know what caused him to shoot last night.”