Vigils will be held in Scotland for the 50 victims of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in the US.

Fifty people were killed in the massacre, the worst shooting on US soil, at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the early hours of Sunday and a further 53 people are wounded in hospital.

Omar Mateen burst into the LGBTI venue and opened fire while armed with an assault rifle and handgun before taking hostages. He was shot by police at the nightclub after a three-hour stand-off.

Two vigils will be held in Scotland this week in memory of those killed in the tragedy. The first will take place on Monday at 5.30pm in George Square in Glasgow.

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A second vigil will take place at 7pm on Wednesday at St Andrew’s Square in Edinburgh. Hundreds of people are expected to turn out at both events.

A Facebook page set up for the Glasgow events says: “With the tragic news of the shooting at the gay club Pulse in Orlando, we’re holding a vigil in George Square to show our support for LGBTQ people worldwide, and to provide a space for us to mourn with our community.

“This attack is a reflection of the violence LGBTQ people face daily, not just in the US but across the world, and this violence feels personal for many of us.

“This was a hate crime against our community, and an extension of the messages that we hear daily that we should not be visible, we should not be out, we should not exist.

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“The inclusive support of our whole community, and of the wider Glasgow community, is vital as we mourn the loss of so many lives, and continue to fight the bigotry that allows such attacks to happen in the first place.”

A similar page for the Edinburgh events says: “Following the tragic deaths of so many innocent people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando (50 at the last update, and over 50 injured), let’s show our solidarity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and beyond community and pay our respects to everyone affected by this act of terror.

“We’d love people in Edinburgh and beyond to come together to show our respect, pay tribute and stand up to the terror witnessed in Orlando. We will remember those who lost their lives, and all those affected with a one minute silence.”

Scottish national LGBTI charity the Equality Network has issued a statement about the attack on Sunday morning at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Tim Hopkins, director of the Equality Network, said, “As the news unfolds about the very many victims of the murderous attack in Orlando, our care and thoughts are with them and their families and friends. It is impossible for us to imagine the horror of the attack, or the devastation to lives it has and will continue to cause.

“Whatever may emerge about any connection between the killer and organised terrorism, it is clear that a large part of the motive for this attack was homophobic hate. LGBTI people around the world face the reality of crimes of hatred, from verbal abuse through to murderous violence. This attack is a terrible reminder of that reality and makes us all feel a little less safe today.

“As we have seen too often, when people come together as a community, whether in a club, or a place of education or worship or elsewhere, one person filled with hatred and with powerful weapons can cause devastation. But communities are what matter, and we trust that this attack will only strengthen the resolve of the diverse communities of Orlando and elsewhere to work together to end prejudice and hate.”