Dark day in summary
Gunmen opened fire on two Christchurch mosques.
There were also reports of gunfire at or near Christchurch Hospital. Four people are in custody.
MOSQUE SHOOTINGS
Police were alerted to a shooting at a mosque on Deans Ave, near Hagley Park, at 1.53pm. It is believed the shooting began about 1.40pm.
There were between 300 and 500 people in the mosque.
A second shooting at Linwood mosque on Aldwins Rd was reported about half an hour later.
Police escorted several people, believed to be worshippers, out of the mosque at 2.20pm.
A witness said he heard gunshots at the Linwood mosque at 1.45pm. That would be just five minutes after the Deans Ave shooting. SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY Three men and one woman were in custody but police were unsure if there were other offenders at large.
They were unsure if there were any other locations under threat.
UNCONFIRMED SHOOTING AT CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL
A person at the scene said there had been shots fired at Christchurch Hospital, but this was unconfirmed.
Armed police were checking all vehicles as they entered. VICTIM COUNT
Sources told Stuff nine people were confirmed dead.
Staff at Christchurch Hospital cleared the emergency department, expecting 40 to 50 injured people.
SUSPECTED CAR BOMB
The Guardian reported a suspected car bomb on Strickland St.
Police warned a reporter to stay away from a beige Subaru that had crashed, saying it was not safe and there was a bomb inside.
CITY IN LOCKDOWN Residents in Christchurch were told to stay inside their homes.
Most schools in the city were in lockdown and students were not released for nearly three hours after school ended.