49 dead in New Zealand mosque shootings
 

There are multiple fatalities after shootings at two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand police have said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described it as a terrorist attack, and one of the country's "darkest days".

Three men and one woman are in custody, police commissioner Mike Bush said, but warned more suspects may be at large.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said one of those arrested was an Australian citizen.

He described the suspected attacker as an "extremist right-wing violent terrorist".

Witnesses told local media they ran for their lives and saw people bleeding on the ground outside the Al Noor mosque.

A second mosque in the suburb of Linwood has been evacuated, and Police Commissioner Mike Bush said "multiple fatalities" were recorded at two locations. As yet, far fewer details have emerged from the second site.

Police emphasise that the situation is still evolving and have not said how many people have been injured or killed.

They said they had responded to "a number of IEDs (explosive devices) attached to vehicles, that we also stopped".

Authorities have advised all mosques in the city to shut down until further notice, saying this was an unprecedented act of violence.

Armed police have also been seen at Papanui High School in Christchurch, which has been cordoned off.
It is not yet known how many shooters there were, but the Herald reports that one gunman is believed to be an Australian who has written a manifesto outlining his intentions. In it, he espouses far-right ideology and anti-immigrant ideology.

Footage taken by one shooter has emerged, which he appears to have live-streamed as he shot victims in a mosque. Police called on the public not to share the "extremely distressing" material online.

Facebook said it had removed the shooter's Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as any support voiced for that crime.

The first report of an attack came from the Al Noor mosque, located in central Christchurch along Deans Avenue, facing Hagley Park. Witnesses there reported seeing people bleeding on the ground outside the building.

One unnamed survivor told TV New Zealand he saw a gunman shoot a man directly in the chest.

The attacker reportedly targeted the men's prayer room in the mosque, then moved to the women's room.

"What I did was basically just waiting and praying, God please, let this guy run out of bullets," the witness said.

"He came to this side, he shot this side, he went to another room and went to the ladies' section and shot them. I just heard one of the ladies has died."

A Palestinian man, who did not wish to be named, told AFP news agency he saw a man shot in the head, and heard rapid gunfire.

"I heard three quick shots, then after about 10 seconds it started again - it must have been an automatic, no one could pull a trigger that quick.

"Then people started running out. Some were covered in blood."

A second mosque in the suburb of Linwood has also been evacuated, and the police commissioner said "multiple fatalities" were recorded at two locations. There are far fewer details emerging from there, however.

Multiple casualties have been brought to Christchurch Hospital, where there is a heavy police presence.

A spokeswoman said Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has activated its mass casualty plan, according to New Zealand news site Stuff.co.nz.

Police earlier cleared Cathedral Square, where thousands of children had been holding a rally for action on climate change.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said: "Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high.

"Police recommend that residents across Christchurch remain off the streets and indoors until further notice."

A lockdown on all schools in Christchurch has now been lifted, and parents are being told they can collect their children.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted: "I'm horrified by the reports I'm following of the serious shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. The situation is still unfolding but our thoughts and prayers are with our Kiwi cousins."

As well as the numerous witness reports of casualties, the Bangladesh national cricket team appear to have narrowly escaped the shooting.

A reporter following the team, who were due to play New Zealand in a now-cancelled test match on Saturday, tweeted that the team had "escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters".

Player Tamim Iqbal tweeted that the "entire team got saved from active shooters".

Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus said most of the team had gone to mosque by bus and were about to go inside when the incident took place.

"They are safe. But they are mentally shocked. We have asked the team to stay confined in the hotel," he told the AFP news agency.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47578798

****ing vile...I genuinely do not get this 'reacting to terrorism with terrorism' mindset. When realy, they are just as bad as the people they think they are fighting back against, when really, they just want to be violent. These people they killed/injured are not terrorists, they are just normal people. RIP to the victims...

Horrific. I swear the reports last night said there were only a couple of deaths, I must have misread.

Awful, the guy live streamed it to Facebook too :umm2:

This is terribly sad. :sad: It's like someone attacking goldfish as revenge for shark bites. Absolutely cowardly. Devastating for their communities.

Disgusting.

Jfc :umm2:

It's pretty much blaming the muslims fault they were murdered and its sick

This is what you call a PM, Not afraid to call out white extremists as Terrorists instead of blaming the muslims

Terrible. I have been all around the South Island and compared to the north island it is very white. They killed all their Maori so in rural areas there is little to any diversity. However in a city like Christchurch they would be getting some immigrants. And I guess that’s why they were targeted.

ISIS/Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, caused this tbh


that hatred towards muslims in general


very sad :( those terrorist groups themselves are a disgrace for their own religion, cause not all muslims are terrorists

Not appropriate.

Sadly the death toll has risen to 49

Terrorists and extremists have caused hatred toward muslims, but what caused this attack is the person holding the gun.

Yes it was a around 9
early on.

that statement from the australian senator is seriously ****ed up

well hate can get radical yes


and that person holding the gun, is just a lowlife piece of scum racist, hope he rots away in jail for the rest of life, maybe isolation cell will be good place for people like him

[Three men and one woman in custody - police say more attackers may be at large]

The Evil Terrorists had easy pickings
https://news.sky.com/story/live-sign...sques-11665829


[There was 10 to 15 minutes of continuous shooting]


https://news.sky.com/story/live-sign...sques-11665829

This man has always been a bigot and a racist

He is just using terrorism by some so called Muslim groups to go and di the exact same thing, it makes him no better a person then them .

Most of the world will pray for muslims he attacked but nobody will be praying for him

Thats exactly what it is.
No, this man caused this. Its noone elses fault. Normal people can see that everyday Muslims are not the problem. Bigoted violent idiots like this guy cannot. But nothing caused this but his hate. Honestly, I reckon even without the likes of ISIS, he would have found some 'reason' to do it. Don't put the blame elsewhere.

How dare he describe him self as an 'ordinary' white man, scum is what he actually is

and what is a kebab removalist? :umm2:

Have to disagree, you only need to read his manifesto to see that he was influenced by right wing ideology.

it's 49 now

Just why?

That is seriously ****ed up, can hatred really be that strong?