Cricket team escapes mosque shooting

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The third test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh scheduled to begin Saturday has been cancelled after the Bangladesh cricket team had a narrow escape from a shooting at a mosque in Christchurch.

Members of the Bangladesh cricket team described on social media their escape from the mass shooting on New Zealand’s South Island.

Players and members of the team’s coaching staff were reportedly on their bus, approaching the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Hagley Park when the shooting broke out.

Player Tamim Iqbal tweeted “entire team got saved from active shooters. Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers.”

Performance analyst coach Shrinivas Chandrasekeran, also on Twitter, said “Just escaped active shooters. Heartbeats pumping badly and panic everywhere.”

Player Mushfiqur Rahim posted “Alhamdulillah Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque. We (were) extremely lucky...never want to see this things happen again .... pray for us.”

Mario Villavarayen, a strength and conditioning coach with the team, told New Zealand media the players did not see the shooter, but heard shots.

“I spoke to one of them shortly after,” Vllavarayen said. “They didn’t see anything but heard gunshots. They were at the ground and just started running. The coaching staff were all at the hotel.”

New Zealand Cricket confirmed “that both teams and support staff groups are safe and accounted for.”

The Bangladesh team is reported to have left the bus and fled on foot to nearby Hagley Oval, where it was scheduled to play New Zealand in the test match starting on Saturday.

Multiple people were killed at two mosques full of people attending Friday prayers, as New Zealand police warned people to stay indoors as they tried to determine if more than one gunman was involved.

One person was taken into custody but it was unclear if there were other people involved.

—