Armed guard at Manawatu¯ mosques
‘‘With an active and large Muslim community in our own city, our thoughts go out to them.’’ Grant Smith, Palmerston North mayor
Armed police have been deployed to all Central District mosques to stand guard following the Christchurch mosque attack, as Manawatu¯ ’s Muslim community pulls together for support.
Manawatu¯ Muslim Association president Zulfiqar Butt said he had been in contact with the imam who was running the service at a mosque in Christchurch when a gunman entered. The imam believed there were 100 people either dead or injured and was ‘‘shaken’’, but not injured.
Police inspector Brett Calkin said armed officers had been deployed to all police central district mosques.
He would not confirm if it was a nationwide directive or due to a particular threat, but reiterated calls for calm.
Manawatu¯ police acting area commander Ross Grantham said people should stay calm and if they heard anything untoward, let the police know.
‘‘If they are really concerned, call 111.’’ Butt said they had cancelled events set to be held at the mosque last night and tomorrow as they had been asked to not have big gatherings.
He had spoken to a few friends in Christchurch and said they were told to stay inside.
His friend’s father was visiting him from Pakistan and had been shot twice in the chest while sitting in the car and was in hospital.
Another friend of Butt’s had seen three dead bodies on the steps of the mosque, after arriving after the prayers had started.
Butt asked the Muslim community to ‘‘stay calm and not to spread wrong information’’.
Some flights in and out of Palmerston North Airport were yesterday cancelled, a spokeswoman said.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said: ‘‘With an active and large Muslim community in our own city, our thoughts go out to them and Christchurch. What has happened is truly terrible . . . and I’m very saddened.’’
Tonight’s Lantern Festival in The Square, Palmerston North, which begins the Festival of Cultures, will start with a moment’s silence for the shooting victims. Deputy mayor Tangi Utikere will make a statement on behalf of the city.
John Hornblow is a priest and a senior Anglican leader in Palmerston North, and the city’s former deputy mayor. He said Muslims and Christians were brothers and sisters and people must be free to worship.
Hornblow called for sensitivity when people of different faiths were talking about their beliefs.
He recalled meeting a man who lost 14 family members when 160 Christians were killed at a church in Pakistan.
Afterwards, Muslims gathered and held hands, forming a human chain around a Christian church ‘‘so our brothers and sisters’’ were able to worship in peace. This time, it was the other way around.
Hornblow predicted there would an inter-faith gathering in Palmerston North in the coming days