Shooter put on trial as NZ mourns
CHRISTCHURCH/WELLINGTON: Brenton Tarrant, the right-wing extremist charged over the horrifying attacks on New Zealand mosques, flashed a white supremacy gesture as he appeared in court on Saturday, while a shellshocked community began digging graves for the 49 people he stands accused of slaying.
As details started emerging from the alleged shooter’s “manifesto” denouncing immigrants as “invaders”, media in Pakistan and a series of countries across the Middle East and Europe reported about his tourist visits over the past year.
The number of Indians killed in the horrific shootings rose to five after a 30-year-old electrical engineer from Telangana and three Gujaratis were declared dead on Saturday. At least nine people of Indian origin were missing since the attacks, the Indian high commissioner in New Zealand had said earlier.
One person was declared dead on Friday.
In court, Australia-born Tarrant stood largely impassive in the dock wearing handcuffs and a white prison smock, as the judge read the first of what are expected to be a host of murder charges he is likely to face. Flanked by armed police, the former personal fitness trainer gestured an upsidedown “okay” — a symbol used by white supremacy groups worldwide. He did not request bail and was remanded in custody until an April 5 court appearance.
Friday’s attack, which New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled as terrorism, was the worst ever mass killing in the country. Two other people were in custody and police said they were seeking to understand whether they were involved in any way. None of those arrested had a criminal history or were on watchlists in New Zealand or Australia.
Meanwhile, local media in Pakistan reported that Tarrant visited the country as a tourist in October 2018. According to local publication Urdu News, Tarrant stayed at a hotel in Nagar valley in Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan region from October 22 to October 24. Israr Ahmed, owner of the hotel where Tarrant stayed, told Urdu News he remembered the Australian, who had checked in alone and had appeared “humble”.