A vigil in solidarity with victims of the Orlando shootings and their friends and family will be held by the LGBT community in Oxford later this week.

Just after 2am on Sunday morning 29-year-old Omar Mateen, armed with a pistol and assault rifle, launched a deadly attack on the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando.

The attack left 50 people dead and 53 injured and has sent shockwaves through the LGBT community worldwide. Yesterday President Obama called the massacre an “act of terror and an act of hate”.

Rob Jordan, chairman of the Oxford Pride group, said it was an "absolute tragedy".

He said: "We all got together yesterday at Pride as the news was breaking. It's important to realise why we still need Pride, because unfortunately there are maniacs out there targeting people."

The Oxford University LGBTQ+ society, which represents hundreds of gay, bisexual, trans and queer students across the city, extended "huge love" to the community worldwide and sympathies to the victims' families.

A candlelit vigil, Oxford Stands With Orlando, will be held on Wednesday evening from 8.30pm to 11.30pm.

People of all backgrounds and walks of life are invited to join the event in Radcliffe Square. A Facebook page with more information can be found here.

Oxford City Councillor Tom Hayes, who represents St Clement's, is himself openly gay and has written passionately in defence of the need for Pride in the Oxford Mail.

Yesterday he tweeted: "LGBT people gathering together to celebrate should not need to be a brave political act in 2016".