Admin l Friday, March 15, 2019
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – Not less than 49 people have been killed and many injured when a gunman attacked Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand during Friday worship. Police Commissioner, Mike Bush told the media that two men and one woman have been detained nearby with firearms seized.
He said one of those detained was not involved in the incident, and that officers were working to understand if the other two were connected.
One of the videos uploaded on Facebook showed the gunman firing indiscriminately at men, women and children from close range inside the Al-Noor mosque in New Zealand.
Bush said the suspect who was charged was not known in advance to either New Zealand or Australian security services, while New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called it one of New Zealand’s “darkest days”.
“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” she said.
According to her, what has happened in Christchurch is an extraordinary act of unprecedented violence. “It has no place in New Zealand. Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities – New Zealand is their home – they are us”, she said, adding that the person who has committed this violent act has no place here.
“To those in Christchurch; I encourage you to stay inside and follow the instructions of @nzpoliceThe Police Commissioner will be making a public statement at 5pm. I will update everyone again later this evening”, she said.
Meanwhile, authorities in New Zealand have advised all mosques in the city to shut down until further notice
