Neighbours say gunman was
Brenton Harrison Tarrant grew up in a modest worker’s cottage in an Australian town famous for its jacaranda festival.
The 28-year-old is now charged with murder in relation to New Zealand’s worst massacre that has now claimed 50 lives.
The letterbox in front of his home in a quiet suburban street in Dunedin 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.’’ Armed police have been a visible presence outside the property since Friday, even warning neighbours not to talk with reporters.
‘‘I knew him as much as anyone,’’ said one neighbour, before being advised not to speak to a reporter, by an officer carrying a Bushmaster rifle.
‘A RECLUSE’
Tarrant moved into the twobedroom 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.
The neighbour described him as a quiet man who kept to himself and seemed to leave his home 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 Tarrant moved in, and would see him occasionally on the property’s shared pathway.
He seemed friendly and polite, she said.
He would offer to mow the lawns for the landlord, and help out around the property.
‘‘He seemed like a loner but a friendly loner.’’
The couple had no idea Tarrant had weapons at the time but have since learnt 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.
‘‘But now, I know we’re safe, with him behind bars.
‘‘We were living next to him, and now we’re safer.’’
His landlord has so far not responded to questions.
Fears over a potential improvised explosive device left at the house prompted several blocks of Somerville St to be cordoned off after the shooting.
That cordon was on the intersection of Every St, where five members of the Bain household died in 1994.
Police have said several items of interest were found but nothing that was inherently dangerous.
Tarrant was a member of the Anytime Fitness gym on nearby Macandrew Rd. It’s understood he would often lift weights.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told media on Saturday that Tarrant had also travelled extensively.
Britain’s MI5 is reportedly looking into links that Tarrant may have made with British farRight extremist groups.
Turkey has also confirmed it is looking at the man’s visits to that country, and Bulgarian authorities said he visited Bulgaria last year.
asked Immigration New Zealand for Tarrant’s travel history but the request was refused.
reported earlier that Tarrant was also a member of the Bruce Rifle Club, located about 50km south from his Dunedin home.
Tarrant didn’t hide his enthusiasm for guns and practised shooting at the club.
A spokesman for the club said members were helping the police with their inquiries.
‘‘He seemed a reasonably normal sort of dude.’’
AN AUSTRALIAN UPBRINGING
Tarrant’s childhood was spent in Australia. One of the pictures associated with his online account shows an ocker character in a distinctive Australian bush hat and holding a VB beer.
Tarrant’s hometown Grafton is just over 600km north of Sydney and he attended the local high school. He said online that he barely made it through school and didn’t go to university because nothing interested him.
Tarrant described himself online as ‘‘just a ordinary white