What you need to know
Fifty people are dead after a gunman opened fire on two Christchurch mosques. A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder.
TWO MOSQUE SHOOTINGS
Police were alerted to a shooting at a mosque on Deans Ave, near Hagley Park, at 1.53pm on Friday. It is believed the shooting began about 1.40pm. There were at least 300 people in the Deans Ave mosque.
A second attack took place at a Linwood mosque on Aldwins Rd was reported about half an hour later. One gunman is believed to be responsible for both shootings, police say.
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER
A man has been charged with murder and appeared in Christchurch District Court on Saturday morning. The gunman identified himself as Australian-born Brenton Tarrant. He was not previously on any terror or police watchlists.
‘THIS IS A TERRORIST ATTACK’
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the shootings a terrorist attack.
‘‘It is clear that this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days. This is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.’’ In reference to the attackers, she said ‘‘You may have chosen us – we utterly reject and condemn you.’’
Ardern said many of those in the mosques were likely to be migrants – but ‘‘they are us’’. ‘‘The person who has committed this act against us is not. They have no place in New Zealand.’’ Ardern said gun laws would change in light of the shooting.
VICTIM TOLL
Fifty people are dead. Forty-one were killed at the Deans Ave mosque, and seven died at the Linwood Ave mosque. One person died in hospital after suffering serious wounds. Another victim was discovered at the crime scene. Fifty people with gunshot wounds were admitted to Christchurch Hospital.
CAR BOMBS DISARMED
Police found two IEDs (improvised explosive devices) under one car, believed to be the gold Subaru the shooter was driving. The bombs were assessed by the Defence Force and are now safe.
SHOOTER LIVESTREAMED ATTACK
The shooter posted a 16-minute livestream of the attack on the Deans Ave mosque. The graphic and disturbing footage was circulated online. Facebook and YouTube spokespeople said they were working to remove the video. Police made a statement saying they ‘‘strongly urge’’ people not to share the footage, as they worked to remove it.
LOCKDOWN LIFTED
Residents in Christchurch had been told to stay inside their homes and students
could not go home from school. The lockdown ended just before 6pm on Friday.
Blenheim Rd and Moorhouse Ave have now fully reopened. As of yesterday, Deans Ave remains closed south of Kilmarnock St, while Riccarton Rd is closed between Clarence St and Deans Ave and Riccarton Ave is closed between Hagley Ave and Deans Ave.
SPORT CANCELLED
Members of the Bangladesh cricket team were in a bus heading into the Deans Ave mosque when the first attack occurred. Coaching staff confirmed no players were hurt but that they were shaken.
The third test was expected to begin at Hagley Oval on Saturday. The game was cancelled, and the Bangladeshi team went home as soon as possible.
The Highlanders v Crusaders match at Forsyth Barr Stadium was cancelled on Saturday.
SCHOOLS TO REOPEN ON MONDAY
Schools will reopen in Christchurch today, with the exception of Hagley College, which is acting as a welfare centre for the mosque shootings.
Ministry of Education director for Canterbury Coralanne Child said counsellors would be in schools. Each school had a plan for how to care for upset or affected students.
Two Cashmere High School students were killed, and another injured on Friday.