Sad day as victims of Christchurch terrorist attack are buried

A MASS burial for 26 victims of the Christchurch massacre has brought home the enormity of the atrocity that has shaken the world.

A grim stream of open caskets, initially in groups of five, were carried aloft to their graves where they were placed headfirst towards Mecca.

Among those laid to rest was three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim, who was shot while sitting in the lap of his father, Aden, 60, at the Al Noor mosque a week ago.

An estimated 5000 Muslims from New Zealand and around the world were earlier in the day joined by up to 15,000 non-Muslims at an open prayer session in parkland across from the mosque to honour the dead and unite in grief.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern kept it short and poignant. “New Zealand mourns with you,” she said. “We are one.”

The Imam of the Al Noor mosque, Gamal Fouda, was present when the accused white supremacist Brenton Tarrant shot dead 42 people before heading across town to the Islamic Orayer Centre where he killed eight.

He said he saw first-hand the “hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist”.

“The terrorist sought to tear us apart with his evil ideology,” the Imam said. “But instead we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable and that the world can see in us an example of love and unity.”

They came from as far away as the Gulf Nations, and from across town. Among them was Mostafa Abdelmonem, 42, a local dairy farmer originally from Egypt. Nursing his arm in a sling after being shot last Friday, he said the prayer had helped.

“It has helped us feel safe and comfortable,” he said. “We are going to stay here.”

Outspoken Australian boxer and Muslim Anthony Mundine comforted community members at the open prayer session.