I’m not a hero.. the heroes are those who passed away, but I thank God Almighty for using me to save the few lives I could – IMAM ALABI LATEEF ZIRULLAH
AN IMAM pictured in bloodsoaked robes after saving the lives of dozens of worshippers during the Christchurch massacre has told how the horror unfolded and insisted: “I’m no hero.”
The image of Alabi Lateef Zirullah resonated with the shock felt around the world in the aftermath of Brenton Tarrant’s atrocity – in which he killed 50 in attacks on two mosques.
Moments before it was taken, Alabi had told people to run for their lives after spotting the crazed gunman entering while he led prayers.
Survivors have said they owe their lives to the Manchester City fan – a Nigerian who moved to New Zealand in 2016. But he humbly insisted that he had just been doing God’s will.
“Everyone knows me from the blood-stained photo but that’s not me. I don’t want to be associated with bloodshed,” said the dad-of-one.
“The heroes are those people who passed away, not me.
“But I thank God Almighty for using me to save the few lives that I could.”
Australian Tarrant targeted Alabi’s Linwood mosque after killing 42 worshippers in the nearby Al Noor mosque. He killed eight people at Linwood, one victim dying later in hospital.
The total number injured in the attacks is 31 – with 11 of them still in a critical condition.
Alabi, known as Brother Lateef, knew nothing of the Al Noor attack when Tarrant struck last Friday. He said: “We were praying and I heard the shooting, the ‘pop, pop, pop’ of the weapon. I knew straight away it wasn’t fireworks, it was gunfire. Then I saw him through the window.
“I shouted at my brothers and sisters, ‘Get down, get down’. Some didn’t listen, they didn’t understand what I meant.
“Sadly, one brother was standing right by the window and the gunman saw him and shot him. The glass smashed and the brother fell down dead. He shot him right in the head.
“That’s when everyone knew what was happening. Everyone understood we were under attack. I went to the side of the entrance and waited for him. I was going to try to grab the gun off him.
“I was ready to die to defend my brothers and sisters and stop any more bloodshed.”
Before he could tackle Tarrant another worshipper, Abdul Aziz, took him on.
Alabi said: “He threw a credit card machine we use to collect donations during prayers at him. That seemed to deter him and he dropped the gun and left. Myself and Abdul followed. He was going to his car to get more guns. Abdul picked up the gun he had left and threw it at the man’s car. It smashed the windscreen. After that, the man drove away.
“If it wasn’t for chasing him he would have returned and killed many more.”
Alabi returned to the mosque and tried to help dying and injured worshippers. “That’s why I had so much blood on my Muslim dress,” he said. “It was the blood of my brothers and sisters. I shouted to those who were hiding, ‘The b ***** d is gone, get out, get out’.
“I rang my wife and told her to lock the house and not come down to the mosque.
“I also told her to contact my friend to collect our daughter from school. I was worried for their safety.”
Alabi said he is still coming to terms with what happened.
“I don’t know if it has really hit me yet,” he said. “What happened is a tragedy.
“The plan is for a mass burial, maybe on Thursday, but there have been delays releasing the bodies. We’re not sure what is going to happen with the mosques. Some say they may be open on Friday but I doubt that. Some want them to re-open but many others say they can never go back. The pain is too much.”
He insisted he does not hate Tarrant – but refused to say if he can ever forgive him.
Alabi said: “If he repents, Allah is ready to forgive. But it is up to the families of those who passed to decide if they forgive, not me.
“I don’t hate him. He may have gone through a lot of bad experiences in his life. But that is no excuse to kill. We must overcome what has happened and be strong for the families of those who died. Hate cannot be the victor.”
Meanwhile, Tarrant, 28, has been moved to New Zealand’s only maximum-security prison – the Paremoremo facility in Auckland. He is reportedly being held in segregation and denied access to newspapers, TV and radio.
If he repents, Allah is ready to forgive. I don’t hate him. Hate cannot be the victor. ALABI LATEEF ZIRULLAH ON FEELINGS OVER TARRANT