CHRISTCHURCH - At least forty-nine people were killed and dozens injured in shootings at two mosques in New Zealand's second-largest city of Christchurch on Friday in what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said was a well-planned terror attack, forcing the government to place the country on its highest security threat level.
She said three people in police custody held extremist views, but had not been on any police watchlist. “While we do not have anything to believe at this stage that there were any other suspects, we are not assuming that at this stage”. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier confirmed that one of the four people taken into custody is Australian. Media reports had said that a man who called himself "Brenton Tarrant" - a white, 28-year-old Australia-born man - claimed to be the shooter and livestreamed the shooting for 17 minutes.
Witnesses cited by media reports described scenes of carnage and massacre at Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and Linwood Mosque. — Jacinda Ardern March 15, 2019 A man, who would not give his name, said he was praying in Al Noor Mosque when he heard the shooting start, reported Stuff news website.
He says he also saw the gunman flee before emergency services arrived. Mr Peneha says he went into the mosque to try and help: “I saw dead people everywhere.” — Mohammad Isam March 15, 2019 Oakford Close resident Robert Weatherhead, who took in people who escaped from the mosque, told NZ Herald they described the gunman as a white man in his 30s or 40s and wearing a uniform, but he had not been able to ascertain what the uniform was.Linwood Dental Centre practice manager Janine Richmond said she heard about 20 gunshots come from Linwood Mosque at about 1.45pm.
The city council offered a helpline for parents looking for children attending the rally. “Please do not try and come and collect your children until police say it is safe for people to come into the central city,” they had said. Muslim Association of Marlborough chairman Zayd Blissett said he found out about the shooting from a text sent by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand at 2.04pm, saying"50 shot" during Friday prayers in Christchurch.
Prayers started at 1.30pm and the gunman came in about 10 minutes later, when everyone was on their knees praying, he said. The gunman let off dozens, if not hundreds of rounds, he said.
Banned all kinds of cricket in New_Zealand