At least 49 people have been killed and 20 seriously injured after mass shootings, deemed terrorist attacks, at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The attack has been described as being “carefully planned and unprecedented.”
According to New Zealand’s Police Commissioner, Mike Bush, 41 people were killed at the al Noor mosque, 7 people died at the Linwood mosque, and one person died from their injuries in the hospital. Both mosques are in Christchurch city center.
Bush said four people were taken into custody, three men and one woman, have been charged with murder and will appear at the Christchurch court Saturday. Police are still investigating the involvement of the other three suspects, although all were in possession of firearms at the scene. None of the four had been on any security watch lists before the attack. Bush also shared that two improvised explosive devices were attached to a nearby vehicle as part of the attack. One device has been disabled, and authorities are continuing to work on the other.
The commissioner urged residents to stay home at this time while police investigate the attacks. He said, “anyone who was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today not to go. To close your doors until you hear from us again.” Police have also evacuated properties close to a “location of interest” in the southern city of Dunedin, 225 miles from Christchurch.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that at least one of those taken into custody is Australian and that the shooting was the work of an “extremist right-wing, violent terrorist” at a press conference Friday. Morrison has asked for flags to be flown at half-mast 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.
A Facebook account that is believed to belong to one of the attackers, posted a link to an 87-page, unsigned, manifesto that was filled with anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim ideas and explanations for an attack in addition to a video shared online and broadcast live during the attack, showing a gunman walking into an unnamed mosque and opening fire.
A spokesperson for Facebook New Zealand, Mia Garlick, said videos that appeared to show the Christchurch shootings have been promptly taken down. “New Zealand Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the live stream 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.
Prayers to New Zealand and all of the lives affected by this tragedy ??
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