Dad went in for prayers and never came out
Rahimi Ahmad, 39, went for Friday prayers at Masjid Al Noor on Christchurch’s Deans Ave with his 11-yearold son yesterday — as he did every week.
His son was playing outside when gunshots were heard in the mosque. Another mosque-goer grabbed his hand and took him to shelter at a house next door.
However, no one knows what has happened to Rahimi.
His wife, Azila, said yesterday she was waiting anxiously to hear from him.
“I just want to know he’s safe, and I’m praying and hoping that he will call,” she said.
“Rahimi has his mobile phone with him, so I’m sure he will be able to get in contact soon. But right now I don’t know what’s happened to him.”
Rahimi went to the mosque around 1pm with his son, she said. After she heard about the shooting, she got a call from her friend saying I’m just waiting and praying that I will hear from him or at least hear that he’s okay. her son was safe, but Rahimi was believed to be inside the mosque at the time.
“My son was playing outside, so when the shooting happened, a friend just grabbed him and took him to a Kiwi’s house next to the mosque,” Azila said.
“But the friend didn’t know what happened to Rahimi.”
Azila said Rahimi was originally from Penang, Malaysia, and the family had lived in Christchurch for about five years.
Azila said she was at a loss about what to do.
“I’m just waiting and praying that I will hear from him or at least hear that he’s okay.”
Canterbury Malaysian Society president Sam Yau said he had been contacted by the Malaysian High Commission about Rahimi, but there was no confirmation on his condition.
The High Commission confirmed at least one Malaysian was hurt and social media posts suggested another Malaysian could have been killed.