To Masjid Al Noor
Masjid. A man later died at Christchurch Hospital from his injuries.
Police said on Wednesday night that they were ‘‘working relentlessly’’ to allow the Muslim community back into the Masjid Al Noor for Friday prayers.
The Linwood mosque was also expected to open this week, a spokeswoman said. Police would maintain a presence at both mosques for the public’s reassurance and safety.
‘‘We would like to thank the community and contractors who have helped us get the mosques back to their original states before these devastating attacks.’’
Anwar Alsaleh, 65, who hid in a bathroom at the Masjid Al Noor while the gunman killed many people he knew, said he would attend Friday prayers – also known as Jumu’ah – at the mosque if it reopened in time.
‘‘I’m not afraid,’’ Alsaleh said. ‘‘I’m lucky to be alive.’’
Many in the Muslim community would be nervous about returning to the scene where their friends and family were killed and injured, and tight security was needed to make them feel safe.
Muslim Association of Canterbury president Shagaf Khan said he would pray at the mosque if it opened, as would many others in the Muslim community.
‘‘Whatever has happened, it’s not going to happen again. The majority [of the Muslim community] . . . can’t wait to go back because they want to . . . pray as normal.’’
Khan said he understood that Muslims from across New Zealand planned to converge on Christchurch for prayers today and it was unlikely the Masjid Al Noor would have the capacity to accommodate them.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced there will be a national call to prayer broadcast on TVNZ and Radio New Zealand today and two minutes’ silence to mark a week since the atrocity.