‘We’ve been living next to his guns’
Massacre accused Brenton Harrison Tarrant grew up in a modest worker’s cottage in an Australian town famous for its jacaranda festival.
In Dunedin, the letterbox in front of his home in a quiet suburban street says: ‘‘No Junkmail, Thank you!’’
That formal politeness, neighbours say, extended to the quiet Australian who rented the semi-detached weatherboard house.
‘‘He always waved . . . seemed nice enough,’’ said one resident several doors down. ‘‘We are all shocked.’’
Tarrant moved into the two-bedroom unit in Somerville St about a year ago.
His former neighbour, a teacher aged in her 20s, still lives there with her partner, a university student, in the unit next door.
The couple, who asked not to be named, shared an internal wall with Tarrant, who kept to himself and seemed to leave for months at a time. He also didn’t seem to have a job.
Sometimes they would hear cupboards opening and closing but that was it – there were few if any visitors and no loud music.
He was ‘‘a bit of a recluse’’, the woman said. ‘‘We didn’t see many people coming and going from his place.’’
The couple introduced themselves when he moved in, and would see him occasionally on the property’s shared pathway. He was polite – ‘‘a loner but a friendly loner’’.
They had no idea Tarrant had weapons at the time but have since learned the landlord knew he had a gun licence and had secure storage for his guns.
‘‘We’re just in so much shock, to hear what we’ve been living next to. To hear what he had over there . . . his guns.’’
His landlord has so far not responded to questions.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that Tarrant had travelled extensively.
Britain’s MI5 is reportedly looking into possible connections with far-Right extremist groups there. He also visited Bulgaria and Turkey.
Tarrant belonged to the Bruce Rifle Club, about 50km south of his Dunedin home.
A spokesman for the club said members were helping the police with their inquiries.
‘‘He seemed a reasonably normal sort of dude,’’ the spokesman said.
Tarrant grew up in Australia. One of the pictures associated with his online account is of an ocker character in a distinctive Australian bush hat and holding a VB beer. His home town, Grafton, 600km north of Sydney, is known for a jacaranda festival in October.
By his own admission he barely made it through school. He described himself online as ‘‘just a ordinary white man, 28 years old. Born in Australia to a working class, lowincome family’’.
Tracey Gray, the owner of Big River Gym in Grafton, said Tarrant worked there about five or six years ago before obtaining personal-trainer qualifications.
In Dunedin, Tarrant belonged to the Anytime Fitness gym on nearby MacAndrew Rd.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Tarrant’s mother, Sharon, had been interviewed by the police. His father, Rodney Tarrant, died at the age of 49 in 2010 from cancer believed to be linked to asbestos. He worked for the James Hardie Group.
His sister Lauren, who appears to go by the name Rosie Robinson online, is a musician. The Herald reported police intended to speak to her as well.