I
feel pretty much in shock over this so won't be sitting at the
computer.
This
is not the country that I was brought up in.
Christchurch,
sadly, is not the city I was brought up in.
“An
account of the shooting posted on Twitter and not confirmed
officially identifies the perpetrator as a 28-year-old Australian man
who frequently posted on 8chan and Twitter, including pictures of his
rifle and magazines, covered in the names of other mosque shooters, a
lengthy manifesto, and even a Facebook live video, purportedly of the
shooting.”
I
have the footage referred to but have decided to withhold it for now
– it is pretty upsetting.
Multiple
victims at shootings at 2 New Zealand mosques, 1 shooter in custody
RT,
15 March, 2019
Police are responding to a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Reports suggest at least nine people have been killed. One person is in custody.
The shooter entered the Masjid Al Noor mosque 10 minutes after prayers began and let off “dozens, if not hundreds of rounds,” witness Ahmad al-Mahmoud told New Zealand outlet Stuff. He described the man as white-skinned, blond, short, and wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest.
A second shooting took place at Linwood Masjid, where a witness says they saw a man leave the mosque wearing camouflage gear and a motorcycle helmet, while unconfirmed reports indicate a bomb was found on nearby Strickland Ave.
Police have one suspect in custody, but are unsure if there are other suspects at large, according to commissioner Mike Bush.
I want to ask anyone who was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today, not to go.
A crisis meeting of national security agencies is underway at the Wellington headquarters of the New Zealand national police.
Officers cleared buildings near the mosques, while Christchurch schools have been placed on lockdown. Another witness said he saw “a man in handcuffs being led away by police.”
Police have confirmed that multiple people were killed in the two shootings, and an unnamed source told Stuff there were nine fatalities. Witness Muhammad Alsouzan says “up to 15” were shot inside the mosque.
Christchurch Hospital staff were expecting about 40 to 50 injured people and had cleared out the emergency department in preparation.
In response to a serious ongoing incident we're locking down number of central city buildings, including the Civic Offices and Central Library. ccc.govt.nz/news-and-event…
A text sent by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand reportedly said 50 people were shot during Friday prayers.
Twenty emergency vehicles are on the scene, and six people have reportedly been taken to the hospital, with two in serious condition.
An account of the shooting posted on Twitter and not confirmed officially identifies the perpetrator as a 28-year-old Australian man who frequently posted on 8chan and Twitter, including pictures of his rifle and magazines, covered in the names of other mosque shooters, a lengthy manifesto, and even a Facebook live video, purportedly of the shooting.
Christchurch
mosque shooting: What you need to know bWhat happened?
15
March, 2019
Dozens
of people have been shot and injured and police say there has been
"multiple fatalities" after shooters opened fire at two
mosques in Christchurch - Masjid Al Noor Mosque next to Hagley Park,
and at the Linwood Masjid Mosque in the suburb of Linwood.
About
300 people were inside the mosque for afternoon prayers.
Police
said one person was in custody, and are unsure if there is another
shooter.
What's
in lockdown?
All
schools in Christchurch have been put into lockdown, as well as
Christchurch Hospital.
Police
said all mosques nationally to shut their doors, that people should
visit them until further notice.
The
hospital has alerted the public that it is in lockdown, with no staff
or patients able to enter or leave the buildings.
The
district health board will not comment further on the reasons for the
lockdown.
But
they said the public should not go to the hospital unless an
emergency.
What
roads are closed?
Deans
Ave has been closed between Moorhouse Avenue and Riccarton Rd.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
What
are witnesses saying?
Witness
Azam Ali said people were shot and covered in blood after a man open
fired at a mosque 10 minutes into their prayers.
What
are the authorities saying?
Police
are urging people in central Christchurch to stay indoors and report
any suspicious behaviour immediately to 111.
Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern is due to address the media at 4pm in New
Plymouth.
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