GHOUL OF GRAFTON
Australian terrorist opens fire at two New Zealand mosques, killing at least 49 and injuring just as many VICTIMS TRIED TO ‘SMASH WINDOWS TO GET OUT’ MONSTER STREAMED KILLINGS LIVE ONLINE INSIDE THE MIND OF A PSYCHO
A WHITE supremacist from Grafton has claimed responsibility for the worst mass killing in New Zealand. Brenton Tarrant, 28, (pictured) yesterday filmed himself calmly walking inside the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch and shooting people, including children, at point-blank range. He then casually returned to his car and drove away, explaining his rampage on social media.
AT least 49 people are dead and scores more injured after an Australian man and others opened fire at two New Zealand mosques yesterday during Friday prayers.
New Zealand police officers, who rammed a car and then dragged Australian man Brenton Tarrant out at gunpoint soon after the attacks, are being hailed as heroes.
The 28-year-old Australian, from Grafton in northern New South Wales, was among four people arrested in the wake of the horrific shootings which paralysed Christchurch at lunchtime and sent scores running for their lives.
Two other men and a woman have also been arrested.
Tarrant, describing himself as a white supremacist, live streamed his chilling attack, including shooting people at point-blank range inside the Masjid Al Noor mosque. He had posted his extremist views online in a 73-page manifesto.
The attacks were at the Al Noor mosque and at another mosque in Linwood in what New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described as one of her country’s “darkest days”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed last night that Tarrant was an Australian-born citizen.
New Zealand Police chief Mike Bush said a number of IEDs or improvised explosive devices had been uncovered in cars.
One man, dressed in army fatigues, was arrested outside Papanui High School in Christchurch.
The disturbing 17-minute live stream of Tarrant’s rampage shows terrified worshippers cowering in the corners of the mosque as he sprays them with automatic weapon fire and then stalks around, through rooms of the mosque, seeking more victims.
He said that 41 people died after the first attack at the Masjid Al Noor mosque and seven others died after the second mosque attack on Linwood Ave. Another died in hospital.
Witnesses say he fired repeatedly into bodies lying on the floor but never said a word.
He begins the Facebook live stream of himself driving to the mosque, with 18th-century marching song British Grenadiers playing in the background, getting out of the car, taking a weapon covered in white writing before walking calmly down the road and into the mosque.
He just as calmly is seen returning to his car and driving away, explaining his rampage.
The Bangladeshi cricket team, arriving at the mosque for prayers, all escaped unhurt but were shaken and the planned Test against New Zealand has been cancelled.
Witnesses described desperately breaking a window and door to escape as the shooting started inside the Masjid Al Noor and of bodies lying everywhere inside the mosque.
There are witness reports that Tarrant also pursued a five-year-old child down the street outside the mosque, gunning the child down.
A small child is known to be among the dead.
One witness said about 300 people were in the mosque at the time.
He said people tried to find places to hide and about 30 to 50 people were lying on the ground.
“Bullets were all around the shooter as he shot,” the witness said. “All of them were shot down – all of them. I’ve seen five people dead.”
Tarrant, who used his own name on his social media accounts, tweeted a picture three days ago of magazine cartridges, appearing to dedicate them to other right-wing extremists whose names were printed on them in white pen. But authorities say he was not believed to have been on any watchlist.
Late last night, heavily armed police stormed a property in Dunedin, a five-hour drive south of Christchurch.
“This is a location of interest in relation to the serious firearms incident in Christchurch today,” New Zealand Police posted online.
Residents in the area were evacuated “as a precaution”.
The Otago Daily Times reported a vehicle involved in the shootings was from Dunedin.
Radio New Zealand reported that a car connected to the Christchurch terror attack was purchased in Dunedin two years ago and registered to an address there.
Tarrant said in his manifesto that he originally planned to target Dunedin’s Al Huda Mosque as a result of a post made by the Otago Muslim Association.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking in Sydney, extended his sympathies to New Zealand and “particularly those of Islamic faith”.
“Australia and New Zealand – we’re not just allies, we’re not just partners, he said.
“We’re family. As family members … we grieve, we are shocked, we are appalled, we are outraged.
“We stand here and condemn absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist (who) has taken the lives, stolen lives, in a vicious, murderous attack.”
Mr Morrison confirmed that Australian authorities were involved in the investigation.
BULLETS WERE ALL AROUND THE SHOOTER AS HE SHOT. ALL OF THEM WERE SHOT DOWN — ALL OF THEM
A WITNESS TO THE SHOOTINGS