Don’t share video on terror attack, says Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has asked Kiwis and media companies not to share or engage with content posted by a suspect in the Christchurch terror attack.

The 28-year-old alleged shooter, who named himself as Brenton Tarrant online, live-streamed one of the two shootings at Christchurch mosques which left at least 40 dead.

Tarrant is now in custody.

He also posted a manifesto online in several forums and emailed it to media outlets, including Stuff.

Several media outlets have posted snippets from the manifesto or clips from the video, including on the front pages of their websites.

Ardern, speaking in Wellington following a briefing from police and national security staff, asked that the video not be shared.

‘‘We should not be perpetuating, sharing, giving any oxygen to this act of violence and the message that sat behind it,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘We should not share, spread, or actively engage in that message of hate.’’

Ardern said she had been given assurances that social media platforms were working to remove the footage.

‘‘I just ask people – don’t share them.’’ Ardern joins thousands online who have condemned anyone sharing the 17-minute video.

Spark, Vodafone, and other ISPs are attempting to block access to the video in New Zealand.

Spark believe the country has never done this before.

Facebook spokeswoman Antonia Sanda was not immediately able to confirm when Facebook first became aware of the footage but said it had been working with ‘‘law enforcement’’ to remove it.

‘‘We are working very hard to get all of this off the platform,’’ she said.

A spokeswoman for Google, which owns YouTube, said it removed a video after at least 100 people had viewed it and more than half a dozen people had left comments.

Google would work closely with the New Zealand authorities to offer any assistance it could, she said. Several of the suggested searches on Google when ‘‘Christchurch’’ is typed refer to the manifesto or video.

Ardern made a moving statement that appeared to be couched in the intelligence of the attackers’ motives.

‘‘We, New Zealand, we were not a target because we are a safe harbour for those who hate.

‘‘We were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone racism, because we are an enclave for extremism,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘We were chosen for the very fact that we are none of those things.’’