Facebook, YouTube try to prevent spread of New Zealand shooting video
By Morgan Gstalter - 03/15/19 07:53 AM EDT
Social media companies are scrambling to stop the spread of live footage appearing to show the attacks on two mosques in New Zealand after one of the shooters reportedly livestreamed the massacre.
At least 49 people were killed in two mosques in the city of Christchurch on Friday.
"New Zealand Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the livestream commenced and we quickly removed both the shooter's Facebook and Instagram accounts and the video," Mia Garlick, Facebook's director of policy for Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement.
Facebook is "removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we're aware," Garlick added.
The video reportedly showed a gunman opening fire inside the mosque.
New Zealand police have asked social media users to stop sharing the reported footage.
Twitter said in a statement that it has suspended an account related to the shooting and is trying to remove the video from its platform.
A Google spokesperson said YouTube has removed the "shocking, violent and graphic content" as soon as it was made aware of it.
Our hearts are broken over today's terrible tragedy in New Zealand. Please know we are working vigilantly to remove any violent footage.
— YouTube (@YouTube) March 15, 2019
Authorities have charged at least one person and detained four others in relation to the attack. Police also defused explosive devices after the gunman published live footage of the shooting and published a "manifesto" calling immigrants "invaders."
The suspect declared himself in the manifesto to be a 28-year-old Australian radicalized online by right-wing influences amid pages of rhetoric against Muslims and other minorities, according to the outlet.
Updated at 10:35 a.m.
Tags Facebook Twitter YouTube New Zealand mosque shootings Terror attack