Kindy link as third target
THE white supremacist behind the Christchurch terror attacks had planned to hit a third location last Friday — but was arrested before he got there.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed this yesterday, but declined to name the target to avoid causing further trauma in the community.
There has been speculation that accused gunman Brenton Tarrant was heading for the city’s only Islamic kindergarten, on its southwestern outskirts, or a mosque in the town of Ashburton, 75km away.
Mr Bush said: “We absolutely believe we know where he was going and we intervened on the way … that will form part of the court case.”
The trauma already inflicted on the community was plain on the face of Zaid Mustafa, 13, who came in a wheelchair to the burial of his father and older brother yesterday. He is still recovering from bullet wounds to his legs and arms.
His dad, Khaled, 44, and brother, Hamza, 15, were the first of the 50 victims to be laid to rest in Christchurch.
The shooting victims are being described as “shahid” or martyrs, who were in the purest state at the time of their deaths given they had all gone through a cleansing ritual upon entering the mosques.
Autopsies have been completed on all 50 bodies, and although some identification issues remain outstanding, the funerals are now expected to move swiftly, with 30 bodies released and more laid to rest yesterday afternoon.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who yesterday visited Cashmere High School to comfort the friends of shooting victims, brothers Zaid and Hamza Mustafa, is expected to announce details of new gun laws today. She is unlikely to face any quarrel from Opposition parties.
The first stage is likely to be an immediate ban on sales of semi-automatic weapons, followed by a buyback and requirements that all guns be registered.
Outside the funeral, Jamil el-Biza from Australia’s Sunni Muslim association was critical of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
He said Australia “needs to learn from the Prime Minister of New Zealand how you treat Muslim people in times of hardship.”
Accused gunman Tarrant has reportedly been moved to a high-security jail in Auckland where he is being denied access to any form of media, to prevent him from taking any pleasure in his notoriety.
Ms Ardern said a high police presence in Christchurch would remain for coming weeks as intelligence services worked through leads.
“Our security and intelligence services are receiving a range of additional information,” she said. “These are being taken extremely seriously and are being followed up.”