1 FIJIAN DEAD, AT LEAST 2 IN HOSPITAL
Ashraf Ali succumbs to injuries after being shot Shah Niwaz and Imam Hafiz Musa Patel undergoing surgeries
AFijian has died and at least two others are in hospital after Friday’s unprecedented terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Said from Christchurch Former Labasa resident, Sahadat Khan yesterday: “We lost one Fijian chacha (uncle) Ashraf Ali. He lived at nine and half miles in Nasinu before
migrating to New Zealand.” He said arrangements were being made for his funeral. The late Mr Ali was one of the 49 confirmed dead.
Those undergoing surgery in hospital include Mr Khan’s son-in-law Shah Niwaz and Imam Hafiz Musa Patel who once taught at the Lautoka Mosque. It wasn’t clear last night how many Fijians were injured and still in hospital.
Mr Khan yesterday revealed how Mr Niwaz was shot three times by terrorist Brenton Tarrant at the Al Noor Mosque. He made the disclosure as more chilling details of the terror attack emerged. The Linwood Mosque was also attacked.
Mr Khan said the first bullet grazed Mr Niwaz’s shoulder while the second and third hit him in the waist.
“My son-in-law is in theatre, being operated on. Two bullets were lodged in his waist which need to be removed. His father, my in-law who is a retired teacher from Labasa, came to visit us from Fiji.
“He was around the mosque area when the shooting happened. This has instilled fear in our hearts.”
Mr Khan said rebuilding their lives and moving on from the horror of these terror attacks would not be an easy task.
His son, Shamir Khan, who was also in the Al Noor Mosque during the shooting shared his chilling account in the Fiji Sun yesterday. He described how he hid underneath dead bodies to survive as the gunman shot down people.
His father said: “We are in absolute shock. There are so many people from Fiji who pray at those mosques. Meanwhile, the condition of Imam Hafiz Musa Patel is being closely monitored. He was still in critical condition when this edition went to press.