Worst fears amid the uncertainty
Families try to stay strong as they await confirmation. Sam Sherwood, Dominic Harris and Blair Ensor report.
The family of missing loved ones after Friday’s terrorist attack in Christchurch were last night fearing the worst.
Forty-nine people died when a gunman entered two separate mosques and opened fire on the people gathered inside.
Most of the concerned family members say their loved ones were at one of the mosques but not admitted to hospital after the attack.
The names of the dead have not yet been released.
One of the youngest people missing and feared dead is 3-yearold Mucad Ibrahim who was at the Al Noor mosque on Deans Ave with his father and older brother.
Mucad’s brother got out of the mosque as fast as he could, while his father pretended he was dead after he was shot, then fled. Noone had seen Mucad since the shooting, his brother said.
The family had been to Christchurch Hospital and looked through the list of people there. His little brother was nowhere to be seen.
‘‘We’re most likely thinking he’s one of the people who has died at the mosque ... at this stage, everyone’s saying he’s dead.
‘‘It’s been pretty tough, a lot of people are ringing me asking if you need help. It’s been hard at the moment, [we’ve] never dealt with this.’’
Syrian refugee Khaled Mustafa and his family thought they had found a safe haven from death and torture when they arrived in New Zealand only a few months ago.
But Mustafa was killed while he was praying at the Deans Ave mosque, Syrian Solidarity New Zealand spokesman Ali Akil said.
His son Hamza, who is about 16, is missing, and another son Zaid, who is about 13, is in Christchurch Hospital where he underwent a six-hour operation last night, Akil said.
Another missing is Sayyad Milne, 14, who has been described as a good-natured, kind teenager with dreams of being an international footballer.
The year 10 Cashmere High School student was in the Deans Ave mosque for Friday prayers when the attack started. His family is still waiting for official news.
Hussain Al-Umari’s family haven’t heard from him since the gunman entered the Masjid Al Noor, shortly after 1.30pm on Friday.
Hussain, 35, was a regular at the mosque.
‘‘We are just praying and trying to be patient,’’ younger sister Aya said early yesterday afternoon.
‘‘I feel for those who already know the fate of their loved ones.
‘‘We are just praying and trying to be patient. I feel for those who already know the fate of their loved ones. Aya Al-Umari, sister of Hussain Al-Umari
We have to be strong and stay together.’’
A son’s search for his 71-yearold father has ended in tragedy with news he died during the shooting.
Haji Daoud Nabi was shot as he tried to shield another person from the gunman at the Al Noor mosque, his son Omar Nabi said. His father ran the Afghan Association.
One of the pioneers of the Muslim Association of Canterbury is among those feared dead after Friday’s terrorist attack.
Abdelfattah Qasem, 59, the association’s former secretary, has not been seen since the gunman entered the Al Noor mosque on Friday.
Qasem, who was born in Palestine, was considered an elder of the Muslim community in Christchurch.
Muslim Association of Canterbury president Shagaf Khan said yesterday afternoon that police had yet to provide a list of those whose bodies remained at the mosque.
Five Indian nationals are still missing, the high commission of India has confirmed.
There are also dozens of people listed as missing from other countries including Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Jordan and Pakistan.
The daughter of retired Christchurch engineer Ali Elmadani has confirmed he was killed while worshipping at the Masjod Al Noor mosque in Deans Avenue on Friday.
Maha Elmadani, a Christchurch based graphic designer, was currently flying back to New Zealand where her mother and younger brother were mourning the loss of Ali Elmadani and other community members.
‘‘My mother is staying as strong as possible,’’ she said. ‘‘My younger brother isn’t doing too well with the news.’’