Christchurch, Mar 15: At least 49 worshippers were killed in attacks in New Zealand on the Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and the Linwood Mosque in the city's outer suburb, in what is being seen as the worst attack on Muslims in a western country. The gunman reportedly fired dozens of bullets at people trying to run away or lying down in huddled groups in corners of the rooms.
The incident took place around 1.45pm local time when the gunman, who called himself Brenton Tarrant on Twitter, entered the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on Friday during afternoon prayers and opened fire.
Christchurch: Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand. PTI
New Zealand police have confirmed there have been multiple fatalities and four people are in custody, three men and one woman, after shootings at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday.
The gunman who livestreamed himself opening fire at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch also posted a manifesto online addressing his reasons for the attack.
It has been learnt that the Bangladesh cricket team were at the Hagley Park mosque when the incident occurred and escaped from the mosque.
Christchurch Mosque shooting updates:
Mar 15, 2019, 11:36 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi tweet:
The #NewZealandShooting is a despicable act of terrorism, that must be condemned unequivocally. The world stands in need of compassion & understanding. Not bigotry & hate filled extremism. My condolences to the families of the victims. My prayers go out to those who were injured.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday condemned the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch that left at least 49 people dead. The attack also led to the cancellation of the Bangladesh team's tour of New Zealand. The PCB expressed its grief and shock over the incident with the Peshawar and Islamabad franchise teams wearing black armbands during their match in the Pakistan Super League here. In a statement, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said: "On behalf of the Pakistan cricket fraternity, I would like to condemn in the strongest possible way the cowardly, uncivilised and inhuman terrorist attacks on the innocent worshippers in Christchurch mosques."
Mar 15, 2019, 9:50 PM IST
Facebook said Friday it had "quickly" removed a live video from the suspected gunman in twin mosque shootings that killed at least 49 people in New Zealand. The 28-year-old shooter, who has been arrested, published a racist manifesto on Twitter before livestreaming his rampage showing him repeatedly shooting at worshipers from close range.
Mar 15, 2019, 7:52 PM IST
India on Friday said its High Commission in New Zealand was ascertaining more details about the possibility of Indians being affected by the terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques and urged the community to contact the mission for any assistance. At least 49 worshippers were killed in attacks on the Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and the Linwood Mosque in the city's outer suburb, in what appeared to be the worst attack on Muslims in a western country. In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that India's High Commission in New Zealand is in touch with local authorities for more information. "Our mission is in touch with local authorities to ascertain more details. It is a sensitive matter and therefore we can't give confirmed numbers/names till we are absolutely certain," he said.
Mar 15, 2019, 7:13 PM IST
Indian Ambassador to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli's tweet.
As per updates received from multiple sources there are 9 missing persons of indian nationality/ origin. Official confirmation still awaited. Huge crime against humanity. Our prayers with their families
In a letter to PM of New Zealand, PM Modi stressed India’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and of all those who support such acts of violence. PM Modi stressed that hatred and violence have no place in diverse and democratic societies.
Mar 15, 2019, 7:09 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his deep shock and sadness at the loss of scores of innocent lives in the heinous terrorist attack at the places of worship in Christchurch, New Zealand today.
Mar 15, 2019, 6:33 PM IST
"Only two of the players had stayed back in the hotel, and rest of the squad had gone there. We were very close to the mosque, and we could see from the bus. We must have been about 50 yards from the mosque," said Mashud.
Mar 15, 2019, 6:32 PM IST
"We were really lucky. Had we reached even three or four minutes earlier, we probably would have been inside the mosque," said Bangladesh cricket team manager Khaled Mashud on Friday after narrowly escaping the deadliest terror attack in New Zealand's history.
Mar 15, 2019, 6:31 PM IST
Ahmed Jahangir is one of the injured in New Zealand Mosque attack. His brother Khurshid Jahangir told ANI, "My brother was injured & is now recovering in a hospital. He is currently undergoing surgery. We have seen in the video he has been shot in the chest. We are trying to reach the Embassy."
Mar 15, 2019, 5:39 PM IST
She says “at this tragic time, my thoughts and prayers are with all New Zealanders.”
Mar 15, 2019, 5:39 PM IST
The monarch paid tribute to the emergency services and volunteers offering support to the wounded.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:38 PM IST
The monarch sent a message to the governor general of New Zealand, saying she was “saddened by the appalling events in Christchurch today. Prince Philip and I send our condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives.”
Mar 15, 2019, 5:37 PM IST
Queen Elizabeth II has expressed her condolences to the people of New Zealand following the attacks on mosques in Christchurch.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:37 PM IST
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent a message to her New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, expressing her “deep shock” and condemnation of the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:37 PM IST
As Twitterati noted, Trump did not even write a single line of condolence.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:36 PM IST
The US president only tweeted a link to the rightwing news website Breitbart, the founder of which, Steve Bannon, was his media adviser for a while.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:36 PM IST
United States president Donald Trump, who the alleged shooter has named in his manifesto as someone he deeply admires, has responded in an odd fashion to the tragedy which left 49 people dead.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:36 PM IST
Pope voices solidarity with Muslims after New Zealand attacks.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:36 PM IST
Surrounding houses, along with the property in question, have been evacuated.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:36 PM IST
Police have swarmed into a property on Somerville Street in the city of Dunedin in response to a situation having arisen in relation to the attacks in Christchurch.
Mar 15, 2019, 5:34 PM IST
Indian high commissioner to New Zealand said that 9 Indians/ Indian origin persons have been reported missing after the terrible terror attack in Christchurch.
Mar 15, 2019, 3:06 PM IST
"This reaffirms what we have always maintained: that terrorism does not have a religion. Prayers go to the victims and their families," he tweeted.
I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11 where Islam & 1.3 bn Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror by a Muslim. This has been done deliberately to also demonize legitimate Muslim political struggles. https://t.co/5bBREoayLz
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said he blamed these terror attacks on the "current Islamophobia post-9/11" were the entire Muslim population has been blamed for the actions of a few.
Mar 15, 2019, 2:47 PM IST
New Zealand's national security threat level has undergone an enormous shift in the light of the surprise terrorist shooting attack and has been lifted from low to high.
Mar 15, 2019, 2:14 PM IST
The New South Wales counter-terrorism police are investigating the background of Brenton Tarrant, a former student at Grafton High, who is believed to be the man in his late 20s who carried out at least once of the two mass shootings at Christchurch, reports say.
Mar 15, 2019, 2:04 PM IST
Police have recovered a number of firearms from both of the scenes, Linwood Avenue and Deans Avenue, he added.
Mar 15, 2019, 2:04 PM IST
"Three other people were apprehended. We believe one of those persons who was armed and was at the scene may have had nothing to do with this incident, and the two other people that have been apprehended, again in possession of firearms in the general environment, we are working through to understand what their involvement is," he was quoted by The Guardian as having said.
Mar 15, 2019, 2:04 PM IST
In his statement, the NZ Police Commissioner Bush said the man in his late 20s (who is believed widely to be the Brenton Tarrant, who uploaded the live stream and his manifesto) will appear in the Christchurch Court on Saturday morning.
Mar 15, 2019, 1:58 PM IST
One of those arrested may have had nothing to do with the attack, New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said. The two other people arrested in possession of firearms are still being investigated, he added. Bush did not name the suspected attacker.
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Mar 15, 2019, 8:28 am IST
Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus said most of the team were bussed to the mosque and were about to go inside when the incident happened.
Mar 15, 2019, 8:28 am IST
Local media said there were multiple casualties at one mosque and that another had been evacuated.
Mar 15, 2019, 8:30 am IST
It was a narrow escape for the Bangladesh cricketers.
ESPNCricinfo correspondent Mohammad Isam showed the Bangladesh cricketers Tamim Iqbal and Taijul Islam running back from Hagley Park back to the cricket ground.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
The incident took place around 1.45pm local time when the team had gone to pray when the incident took place.
Mar 15, 2019, 8:32 am IST
Canterbury Police have tweeted to avoid the area around Dean Avs stating that there was a critical incident in the area.
In response to a serious ongoing firearms incident in Christchurch all Christchurch schools have been placed into lockdown. Police urge anyone in central Christchurch to stay off the streets and report any suspicious behaviour immediately to 111.
The NZ Herald reports the gunman, believed to be Australian citizen, filmed as he shot victims in the mosque and wrote a 37-page manifesto declaring his intentions. Authorities are yet to confirm this.
Mar 15, 2019, 8:40 am IST
Australian diplomats in New Zealand are seeking information on whether any citizens were affected by the Christchurch mosque shooting.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:04 am IST
There are reports that the man who identified himself as Brenton Tarrant, 28, of Australia filmed self just before live streaming mass shooting at mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:22 am IST
Media in New Zealand are reporting a shooting at a second mosque in Linwood.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:22 am IST
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has just tweeted about the mosque shootings.
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.
New Zeland Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it’s ‘one of New Zealand’s darkest days’. Addressing media, She said,“Police have one suspect in custody, however there could be others. There are multiple scenes involved in this incident.''
Mar 15, 2019, 9:29 am IST
Twitter, Facebook has suspended an account purportedly used by New Zealand mass shooting suspect, a journalist has reported.
YouTube too suspended the account that was shared when he live streamed the massacre.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:31 am IST
Air New Zealand has released a statement around travel to Christchurch, reported local news channel TVNZ.
"We are deeply saddened by the shooting tragedy in #Christchurch city and our thoughts go out to all those involved.
"We are offering flexibility to anyone booked to travel to or from Christchurch today."
Mar 15, 2019, 9:31 am IST
TVNZ quoted the police as having confirmed that there have been multiple fatalities, and that there still is an active shooter scenario playing out.
One person is in custody and there have been people killed in two mosques, one on Deans Ave and one in Linwood.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:35 am IST
The New Zealand police tweeted,''Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the incident in Christchurch circulating online. We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed.''
Mar 15, 2019, 9:35 am IST
One person is in custody and there have been people killed in two mosques, one on Deans Ave and one in Linwood.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:38 am IST
The third Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been called off following the shooting at a mosque in Christchurch.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:43 am IST
Local media reported at least nine people were dead and the South Island city was placed in lockdown as police hunted for an "active shooter."
Mar 15, 2019, 9:44 am IST
There have been reports of a third shooting outside a hospital and an unconfirmed shooting at a high school.
Mar 15, 2019, 9:56 am IST
New Zealand police have warned all mosques countrywide to shut their doors after active shooters opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch city center.
Mar 15, 2019, 10:07 am IST
The mosques were packed with worshippers gathering for Friday afternoon prayers, and members of the Bangladesh cricket team were arriving when the shooter opened fire.
Mar 15, 2019, 10:10 am IST
The New Zealand cricket team tweets out condolences through its official Twitter handle. Both the Bangladeshi and Kiwi teams and support staff groups are safe, it assured. The third Test between the two countries has been cancelled.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by the shocking situation in Christchurch. A joint decision between NZC and the @BCBtigers has been made to cancel the Hagley Oval Test. Again both teams and support staff groups are safe.
Australian channel Nine News Melbourne has reported that there may be as many as 27 deaths in the twin mosque firings in Christchurch. AFP had reported local media as having quoted nine deaths.
Mar 15, 2019, 10:35 am IST
New Zealand police, reported CNN, has said that four people (three men and one woman) are in custody over the Christchurch mosque shootings, but they "cannot presume that the danger is gone."
Mar 15, 2019, 10:36 am IST
Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, tweeted that this was an "awfully, awfully, sad day for New Zealand." He added that there are lessons from the day which "we can call learn."
This is an awfully, awfully, sad day for New Zealand. There are lessons here from which we must all learn.
In his press conference where he announced that four have been taken into custody, New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush said police are now seeking to "saturate" the city area to ensure that schools and other institutions can come out of lockdown.
Mar 15, 2019, 10:37 am IST
"Police can now confirm the lock down of schools throughout Christchurch has been lifted," NZ police has tweeted.
"We would like to reassure members of the public that there is a large Police presence in the city and the safety of the community is our priority," it added.
Mar 15, 2019, 10:40 am IST
Strategic affairs analyst Divya Kumar Soti in a tweet said,"In this picture, you can see "Gaston IV of Bearn" written over Christchurch shooter's weaponry. Gaston was viscount of Bearn was also known as "the Crusader" and fought in Reconquista of Spain and seige of Antioch against Turk muslims during the First Crusade.''
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