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New Zealand shooting: what we know so far
Four people in custody and explosive devices found after dozens killed at two mosques in the city of Christchurch
Guardian staff
Fri 15 Mar 2019 02.52 EDTFirst published on Thu 14 Mar 2019 22.41 EDT
Four people in custody and explosive devices found after dozens killed at two mosques in the city of Christchurch
Guardian staff
Fri 15 Mar 2019 02.52 EDTFirst published on Thu 14 Mar 2019 22.41 EDT
- Forty people have been shot dead and 20 injured in shootings at two mosques in theNew Zealand city of Christchurch during Friday afternoon prayers.
- The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, called it a terrorist attack and said it was “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”. It is the worst mass shooting in the country’s history. She condemned the ideology behind the attack, saying: “You may have chosen us but we utterly reject and condemn you.”
- Four suspects – three men and a woman – were taken into custody and multiple explosive devices found attached to cars in the city. One person was later released. Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said one of the suspects in the “rightwing extremist attack” was an Australian-born citizen.
- New Zealand’s threat level has been raised from low to high.
- Police commissioner Mike Bush urged everyone to avoid all mosques across the country. He told residents in Christchurch: “Close your doors until you hear from us again.”
- The city was placed in lockdown, with schools and public buildings closed. Nearby climate change protests were evacuated and council staff looked after children separated from their relatives in the chaos. The school lockdown was later lifted but residents urged to stay indoors.
- The attacker is believed to have livestreamed at least one of the attacks. Police have urged people not to share the “distressing” footage.
- Earlier, Ardern spoke of the attacker’s motivation, saying the victims might include refugees and migrants. “They are us,” she said, before saying the perpetrator “has no place in New Zealand”.
- Witness Len Peneha said he saw a man dressed in black enter the mosque – believed to have hundreds of people inside – and then heard dozens of shots. He says he also saw a gunman flee before emergency services arrived
- The two mosques targeted were the Al Noor mosque, where 30 people died, and the Linwood Islamic Centre, where 10 were killed.
- Bangladesh’s cricket team “just escaped”after shots were fired near to where the team was due to play the final Test match of their tour of New Zealand. They took refuge in the dressing rooms at Hagley Oval before being taken to their hotel. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal described the experience as “frightening”.