New Zealand
A total of 41 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque.
Police said the alleged shooter took seven minutes to travel to the second mosque in the suburb of Linwood, where seven people were killed. No images have e merged f r om t he s e c ond mosque. Tarrant was arrested in a car, which police said was carrying improvised explosive devices, 36 minutes after they were first called.
“The offender was mobile, there were two other firearms in the vehicle that the offender was in, and it absolutely was his intention to continue with his attack,” Ardern told reporters in Christchurch on Saturday.
Ardern’s office said the suspect had sent the “manifesto” in a bulk email that included a generic address for the PM, the opposition leader, speaker of the parliament and around 70 media outlets a matter of minutes before the attack.
The visiting Bangladesh cricket team was arriving for prayers at one of the mosques when the shooting started but all members were safe, a team coach told Reuters.
Two other people were in custody and police said they were seeking to understand whether they were involved in any way.
None of those arrested had a criminal history or were on watchlists in New Zealand or Australia.
SORROW, SYMPATHY Twelve operating theatres worked through the night on the more than 40 people wounded, said hospital authorities. Thirtysix people were still being treated o n S a t u r d a y , 1 1 o f whom remained in intensive care. One victim died in hospital.
“Many of the people require multiple trips to the theatre to deal with the complex series of injuries they have,” said Christchurch Hospital’s chief of surgery Greg Robertson.
One victim posted a Facebook video from his hospital bed, asking for prayers for himself, his son and daughter.
“Hi guys how are you. I am very sorry to miss your calls and text messages... I am really tired... please pray for my son, me and my daughter... I am just posting this video to show you that I am fully ok,” said Wasseim Alsati, who was reportedly shot three times. Dozens of people laid flowers at cordons near both mosques in Christchurch, which is still rebuilding after a devastating earthquake in 2011 that killed almost 200 people.
Wearing a black scarf over her head, Ardern hugged members of the Muslim community at a Christchurch refugee centre, saying she would ensure freedom on religion in New Zealand.
“I convey the message of love and support on behalf of New Zealand to all of you,” she said.
The majority of victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia and Afghanistan.
Muslims account for just over 1 per cent of New Zealand’s population.