49 killed in terror attack on mosques

MASS SHOOTING IN NEW ZEALAND

AT LEAST 49 people have been killed in mass shootings at two mosques in an attack broadcast online in horrifying live video by an immigrant-hating white nationalist.

One man was arrested and charged with murder, and two other armed suspects were taken into custody while police tried to determine what role they played.

“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” prime minister Jacinda Ardern said, noting that many of the victims could be migrants or refugees.

She pronounced it “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”. The attack shocked the nation of five million people, which has relatively loose gun laws but is largely peaceful.

The gunman behind at least one of the shootings left a 74-page manifesto that he posted on social media under the name Brenton Tarrant, identifying himself as a 28-year-old Australian and white nationalist who was out to ‘avenge’ attacks in Europe by Muslims.

Using what may have been a helmet camera, he live-streamed to the world in graphic detail his assault on Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque, where at least 41 people were killed.

An attack on a second mosque in the city not long after killed several more.

Police did not identify those taken into custody, but said that none of them had been on any watch list.

At least 48 people, some in critical condition, were being treated at Christchurch Hospital for gunshot wounds, authorities said.

While there was no reason to believe there were any more suspects, the prime minister said the national threat level was raised from low to high.

Police warned Muslims against going to a mosque anywhere in the country.