Apple CEO: Orlando an ‘unconscionable act of terrorism’

Apple chief executive Tim Cook opened the company’s high-profile developer conference on Monday by condemning the “unconscionable” mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

“We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone whose lives were touched by this violence — this senseless, unconscionable act of terrorism, of hate aimed at dividing and destroying,” he said.

{mosads}Cook, who is openly gay and has become a voice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights, spoke about the importance of diversity.

“The Apple community is made up of people from all around the world, all different backgrounds, all different points of view. We celebrate our diversity,” he said. “We know that it makes us stronger and moves everyone forward.”

He then led the crowd in a moment of silence to commemorate the shooting victims.

His comments came at the beginning of the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple’s premier announcement event.

He’s not the only major Silicon Valley figure to condemn the attacks. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he was “deeply saddened” by the shooting, which claimed the lives of 49 victims. The gunman was also shot and killed.

The gunman is said to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria before the attack. President Obama said on Monday that it looked like the case was an example of “homegrown extremism.”