At least 49 people were killed and 20 seriously injured in mass shootings
at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch Friday, in a
carefully planned and unprecedented atrocity that shocked the usually
peaceful nation.
The
attack was unleashed at lunchtime local time Friday, when mosques were
full of worshippers. Footage of the massacre was streamed live online,
and a rambling manifesto laced with white supremacist references was
published just before the shootings unfolded.
Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern described the horror as a terrorist attack,
saying it was perpetrated by suspects with "extremist views" that had no
place in her country or the wider world. It was one of the New
Zealand's "darkest days," she said in a press conference Friday.
Authorities said that every law enforcement resource in the country was mobilized after the attack.
Police escort people away from outside a mosque in central Christchurch after the shootings.
Three
people were arrested in connection with the shootings. A 28-year-old
man was charged with murder and will appear in court Saturday morning
local time. Two others were arrested on suspicion of possession of
firearms. Police were investigating their ties to the incident, New
Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
Australian
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that at least one of those arrested
is Australian. The atrocity was the work of an "extremist right-wing,
violent terrorist," he said.
Police
were not searching for any other suspects in connection with the attack
but stressed the investigation remained fluid. None of those arrested
in connection with the attacks had been on any security watch lists
prior to the attack.
A total of 48 people, including young children with gunshot wounds, were taken to hospital.
Attack apparently broadcast live on social media
Authorities
declined to discuss the potential motives behind the attack. But in a
social media post just before the shooting began, an account believed to
be linked to the gunman posted a link to an 87-page manifesto that was
filled with anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim ideas and explanations for an
attack. The manifesto was not signed.
Police
said they were aware of a video shared online and broadcast live during
the attack, which apparently shows a gunman walking into a mosque and
opening fire. "We would strongly urge that the (video) link not be
shared. We are working to have any footage removed," New Zealand police
said.
The brazen nature of of the broadcast, and the tech companies' failure to prevent its proliferation online, raised profound questions about the nature of internet radicalization. In New Zealand, commentators expressed concern that the horror would sow deep divisions in a society that has largely avoided the polarizations that have spread elsewhere.
A police officer secures the area in front of the Masjid al Noor mosque.
In
a statement, a spokesperson for Facebook New Zealand, Mia Garlick, said
the footage was quickly taken down. "New Zealand Police alerted us to a
video on Facebook shortly after the livestream commenced and we removed
both the shooter's Facebook account and the video. We're also removing
any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon
as we're aware," she said.
CNN has
not been able to independently confirm any information about any of the
attackers or the the alleged video at this stage.
A
spokesperson for Google and YouTube called the shooting a "terrible
tragedy." A statement said: "Shocking, violent and graphic content has
no place on our platforms, and is removed as soon as we become aware of
it. As with any major tragedy, we will work cooperatively with the
authorities."
Twitter removed an
account it believed was linked to the main suspect and was working to
keep the video of the incident off its platform, a spokesperson said.
"We are deeply saddened by the shootings in Christchurch today," Twitter
said in a statement. "Twitter has rigorous processes and a dedicated
team in place for managing exigent and emergency situations such as
this. We also cooperate with law enforcement to facilitate their
investigations as required."
IEDs found in vehicle
Armed
police were deployed after first receiving reports of the shootings at
1:40 p.m. local time, when mosques were packed for Friday prayers.
Police said 41 people were killed at the al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue.
Seven died at the Linwood mosque on Linwood Avenue, and one died in the
hospital from injuries.
Mass shootings at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand
Two
improvised explosive devices were found in a vehicle linked to the
attack. A number of weapons were also recovered at both locations.
The
area was placed on lockdown, and police urged Christchurch residents to
stay indoors and monitor the police website and social media.
Worshipers were told to stay away from all mosques in New Zealand.
Later
in the day, authorities evacuated properties close to a "location of
interest" in the southern city of Dunedin, some 225 miles from
Christchurch.
Gunman opened fire 'for 10 to 15 minutes'
One
worshiper, Mohan Ibn Ibrahim, said he was inside one of the mosques
when the shooting began and that he heard the gunman "continuously
shooting for 10 to 15 minutes."
"It's
a big mosque and there were more than 200 people inside. The gunmen
came from the back side. Gunshots went on for a long time. We had to
jump the wall to escape. I saw lots of broken glass and bricks on the
backside of the mosque," he said.
People wait outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019.
"I
came to the street I saw one person got shot on his chest," he said,
adding that the ambulance and police then arrived on the scene. He said
that he had a friend in another mosque in the area who told him a
gunman had opened fire there as well and five people were dead.
"I could not contact two of my friends who are in the mosque as well," he said.
Another
witness, who did not wish to be named, said he was driving by the scene
and saw a man with a "with his 3- or 4-year-old daughter" who had been
shot in the back. "He was screaming like get her to the hospital and
the ambulance couldn't come in until it was secured so I just got my
truck and loaded up him, and his daughter, and this other guy had been
shot in the leg, and took them to the hospital," he said.
One man outside the mosque said that he prayed that the gunman would "run out of bullets."
"I
was thinking that he must run out bullets you know, so what I did was
basically waiting and praying to God, oh God please let this guy run out
of bullets," he said. He said a man told him to remain still and then
the gunman shot the man "straight in the chest."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks in Wellington, New Zealand.
In a press conference, Prime Minister Ardern described the attack as "one of New Zealand's darkest days."
"What
has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of
violence," she said, adding that the attackers have "no place in New
Zealand."
"For now my thoughts and
I'm sure the thoughts of all New Zealanders are with those who are
being affected and with the families," she said.
World leaders react
Australian
Prime Minister Morrison said he has asked for flags to be flown at
half-staff out of respect for those killed in the attack. "Australians
stand with all New Zealanders today during this dark time where hate and
violence has stolen their peace and innocence. Kia kaha (stay strong),"
Morrison tweeted earlier.
US
President Donald Trump said in a tweet: "My warmest sympathy and best
wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre
in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so
many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything
we can."
In a statement, the White
House said: "The United States strongly condemns the attack in
Christchurch. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their
families. We stand in solidarity with the people of New Zealand and
their government against this vicious act of hate."
Yousef
bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, the Secretary General of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC), condemned the attacks. The OIC represents 57
nations with large or majority-Muslim populations.
"The
brutal crime had shocked and hurt the feelings of all Muslims around
the world, and served as a further warning on the obvious dangers of
hate, intolerance, and Islamophobia," he said. Othaimeen urged the New
Zealand authorities to investigate the attack thoroughly.
Sadiq
Khan, the mayor of London, tweeted his condolences to the victims of
the attack, and confirmed that there will be "highly visible" and armed
police around mosques in the UK capital on Friday.
"I
want to reassure the Muslim communities in London. I have been in touch
with the Met Police. There will be highly visible policing around
mosques today, as well as armed response officers, as Londoners go to
pray," he said.
UK Prime Minister
Theresa May sent her "deepest condolences" in a tweet. "My thoughts are
with all of those affected by this sickening act of violence," she
wrote.
source : BBC news
ALLFORMILITARY BLOG CONCLUSION :
Investigations still ongoing ,therefore it is advisable for people not to conclude on blaming other religion for the terrorist act, let us wait till findings are finished.
Thanks for reading.
