49 people have been killed and 42 wounded in mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Thursday. Three people are in custody in connection to the shootings, police confirm. **Follow all of the events on the Breitbart News Live Wire below. All times in eastern. ** 5:01 PM — (AP) — A man who can’t find out information about what happened to his father and two brothers in one of the New Zealand mosques that were attacked has pushed through police barricades in an effort to get closer. A police officer stopped Ash Mohammed, who told the officer “we just want to know if they are dead or alive.” Mohammed said Saturday that he has repeatedly called cellphones for his relatives that rang unanswered and then appeared to have run out of battery power. He says he has not heard from his father and brother since Friday, when they went to the mosque. Mohammed says he had planned to join them for prayers but did not because an appointment he had with a lawyer about buying a house went late. 4:46 PM — (AP) — A senior Turkish official says the suspect arrested in the New Zealand mosque attack travelled to Turkey multiple times and spent what the official called an “extended period of time in the country. He says the suspect may have also travelled to countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with Turkish government rules. The official says an investigation is underway of “the suspect’s movements and contacts within the country.” He did not say when the suspect travelled to Turkey. 4:44 PM — New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern holds a press briefing on the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings. Jacinda Ardern says she is looking into a ban on semi-automatic weapons and has sought advice on that. — Richard James (@richjamesuk) March 15, 2019 Ardern says 125 extra police have been sent to Christchurch in wake of the attack. — CP24 (@CP24) March 15, 2019 4:30 PM — The front page of The Press, Christchurch’s main newspaper, today. Words cannnot describe… pic.twitter.com/FFoxHMB92m — Anna Fifield (@annafifield) March 15, 2019 4:00 PM — President Donald Trump takes questions on the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings during a veto ceremony of a Congressional effort to block his emergency declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Reporter: Do you see white nationalism as a rising threat around the world? President Trump: “I don’t really. I think it's a small group of people that have very, very serious problems. I guess, if you look at what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that's a case." pic.twitter.com/Ae8xYLjQcZ — NBC News (@NBCNews) March 15, 2019 3:45 PM — President Donald Trump offers condolences to those impacted by the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings. HAPPENING NOW: President Trump offers condolences after New Zealand mass shooting https://t.co/tGvLVgpU5w pic.twitter.com/WjM7m0j11C — CBS News (@CBSNews) March 15, 2019 3:41 PM — New York Times’ Wajahat Ali blames the New Zealand mosque shootings on President Donald Trump enabling white nationalism. Tired. Very little sleep. Stumbled with my words a bit but thank you to @BrookeBCNN for giving me space to say my piece about #Christchurch and the rise of white nationalism and how Trump is enabling it. — Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 15, 2019 3:40 PM — (AP) — Officials say nine Indian nationals or people of Indian origin are missing after the mosque attacks in Christchurch. India’s high commissioner to New Zealand, Sanjiv Kohli, tweeted Saturday that nine people were missing and called the attack a “huge crime against humanity.” Indian officials have not said whether the nine were believed to be living in Christchurch. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying that “hatred and violence have no place in diverse and democratic societies.” An immigrant-hating white nationalist killed at least 49 people gathered for weekly prayers in a live-streamed attack. Another 48 people suffered gunshot wounds. 3:38 PM — Christchurch Mayor Lianne Daziel holds a press briefing on the mosque shootings: HAPPENING NOW: The Mayor of Christchurch is addressing the Mosque shooting massacre https://t.co/tGvLVgpU5w pic.twitter.com/XW7pkNvbmz — CBS News (@CBSNews) March 15, 2019 3:24 PM — New Zealand police say three people are in custody, suggesting one was released. Our thoughts go out to those who have been affected by this unprecedented event. A 28-year-old man will appear in Christchurch District Court today charged with murder. Two others remain in custody. — New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) March 15, 2019 3:18 PM — Areeb Ahmed, a 27-year-old chartered accountant from Karachi is among the injured of Friday's attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/sRKFcpakkM — Sabena Siddiqi (@sabena_siddiqi) March 15, 2019 3:16 PM — Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) appears to claim a so-called U.S. “white supremacy” agenda inspired the New Zealand mosque shootings. Rep. @RashidaTlaib on the massacre in Christchurch. "I am so angry at those who follow the "white supremacy" agenda in my own country that sends a signal across the world that massacres like this is some kind of call to action." pic.twitter.com/qKS4XGs6Gt — Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) March 15, 2019 3:15 PM — A police officer on the scene has just confirmed to @SundayTVNZ that there are still bodies lying inside the Al Noor Mosque. @1NewsNZ #Christchurch pic.twitter.com/aCPNg6Ka55 — Jehan Casinader (@jehancasinader) March 15, 2019 2:48 PM — Suspected New Zealand mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant scheduled to appear in Christchurch District Court to face murder charges on Saturday, according to the New Zealand Herald. A police statement reads: “Our investigations are in their early stages and we will be looking closely to build a picture of any of the individuals involved and all of their activities prior to this horrific event. There is no guarantee the risk is limited to Canterbury and we need all New Zealanders to be extra vigilant. Our message to you is simple: if you see something suspicious, say something – call 111 immediately. Police is aware there are distressing materials related to this event circulating widely online.<doc-sep>As of Monday morning, this article is no longer being updated. For continuing coverage on the Christchurch shooting, please visit Vox’s World section. At least 50 people were killed and 50 injured Friday in a mass shooting at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. A 28-year-old man named Brenton Tarrant has been taken into custody and charged with murder. In his first court appearance on Saturday morning, he flashed a white power sign: an upside-down “okay” gesture with his shackled hands. Two other people remain in custody as police try to determine their connection to, or possible involvement in, the attack. The shooter targeted two mosques in Christchurch: the Al Noor Mosque, where 42 people were killed, and another at the Linwood Mosque, where seven people died. One person died in the hospital, according to police. Friday is the Muslim holy day, when many practicing Muslims attend worship services at mosques. Police said they also found two improvised explosive devices attached to one vehicle. One of those devices has been defused, and authorities are working to neutralize the other. Police are also currently investigating a manifesto, which the 28-year-old suspect allegedly wrote and posted on social media shortly before the shooting began. The rambling document espouses far-right and white nationalistic views, specifically targeting Muslims and immigrants. The manifesto also praises mass murderers Dylann Roof, who attacked a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, and Anders Breivik, who killed dozens of young people at a summer camp for Norway’s left-leaning political party. Tarrant is an Australian-born former personal trainer who is believed to have been radicalized during his travels abroad. According to the Independent, Tarrant met with right-wing extremists while taking a trip to Europe in 2017, and also traveled to Pakistan and North Korea. Tarrant had no criminal record prior to Friday’s bloody attack. The alleged shooter also live-streamed his attack on social media, gruesomely displaying how he entered the mosque and shot worshippers as they struggled to flee. In a brief press conference Friday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the mass murder a “terrorist attack” and said the perpetrators held “extremist views” that have no place in New Zealand. “This is one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” she said earlier. “Many of those affected may be migrants, maybe refugees. ... They are us. ... The perpetrator is not.” President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences on Friday morning. 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 do. God bless all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2019 The identities of the victims have not yet been released.<doc-sep>Forty-nine people have been shot dead and 48 injured in attacks targeting Muslims at two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch, in the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s history. The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, described the atrocity as a terrorist attack and said Friday had been “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”. Police commissioner Mike Bush said explosive devices in a car had been defused and urged all mosques across the country to close their doors for the time being. A man in his late 20s was arrested and charged with murder. He will appear in court on Saturday morning. Two other armed suspects were being held in custody. Police said they were trying to determine how they might be involved. Police have not named any of the suspects, but a man identifying himself as Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old born in Australia, broadcast livestream footage on Facebook showing him driving to a mosque, entering and shooting randomly at people inside. New Zealand’s entire police arsenal and personnel were deployed throughout the country and en masse in Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city, which is known to have an active white-supremacist subculture. Hotels in the inner city stationed security guards at their entrances, and armed police protected landmarks of significance, including the courthouse and Christchurch hospital, which is believed to have been a further target. A Christchurch spokesperson told local media police were concerned the suspects had plans to target the victims of the mosque attack as they were transported to hospital. A “manifesto” was posted online before the attacks, in which the suspected gunman espoused far-right and anti-immigrant ideology. The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, called the massacre a “rightwing extremist attack” and said one suspect was Australian-born, without giving further details. Ardern condemned the ideology of the people behind the shootings, saying: “You may have chosen us but we utterly reject and condemn you.” New Zealand’s threat level has been raised from low to high. None of the suspects were on terrorism watchlists, Ardern said. Police officers secure the area in front of Al Noor mosque after the shooting. Photograph: Tessa Burrows/AFP/Getty Images As dusk fell, people who escaped the two shootings returned to the scene, where they waited at the police cordon in an attempt to reach an unknown number of people still being held in a back room of Al Noor mosque, where 30 people were killed in the first attack. Ten people were later killed at the Linwood Islamic Centre, four miles (6km) away. Relatives of those inside estimated about 100 people remained locked inside the mosque. A trickle of Christchurch residents stood with the victims keeping vigil, rubbing their shoulders, offering food and logistical support. “We’re so sorry,” they repeated, and: “This is not us, this is not New Zealand.” Some in typical New Zealand fashion were using black humour, evidently as a coping mechanism in the midst of an overwhelming tragedy. ‘Where are we safe now?’ Hassan, 29, a Sri Lankan Muslim who has lived in New Zealand for six months, said he came to the country for its “peace, and because there are no wars”. He did not wish to give his last name. He was at the Linwood mosque’s Friday prayer service when the shooting began, and hit the floor as women around him rose up and screamed at the gunmen “Do not come here,” some of them charging towards the gunman. “The shooter was screaming a lot and waving the gun in every direction, shooting, shooting, shooting,” he said. “I don’t know who of my friends is dead or alive now. I am waiting. Police told me: ‘I am sorry, this is the first time this has ever happened in this country.’” Hassan’s home is within the Al Noor police cordon, and he was unable to return on Friday night. Mohammed, a Fijian Muslim who also did not wish to give his last name, was in Al Noor mosque when the shooting started. He escaped through the back door, but said his son-in-law was shot in the shoulder and his nephew was trapped inside. The national flag is flown at half-mast on a parliament building in Wellington. Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images “I am happy that I am alive,” he said. “I am new to New Zealand and at the mosque you find your friends and family. They are after the Muslims. They only see religion … They don’t see people any more. “We are not safe any more. Where are we safe now?” As shots rang out, police put the city in lockdown and evacuated nearby climate change protests, with children separated from their relatives looked after by council staff until it was safe. Those who live near the two mosques reported people climbing over fences to escape, and begging for help as the massacre unfolded. The gunman entered Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch and opened fire at 1.40pm local time. An estimated 400 people were inside for Friday prayers. Len Peneha, a witness, told Associated Press he saw a man dressed in black go into the mosque and heard dozens of shots, followed by people running away in terror. He said he saw the gunman flee before the emergency services arrived. Peneha said he went into the mosque to try to help: “I saw dead people everywhere.” Another man who was at the mosque told TVNZ he had not seen his wife, who was also in the mosque, since the shooting. The man, who was in a wheelchair, pushed himself out to the car park. “It was very peaceful, calm and quiet, as it is when the sermon starts, you could hear a pin drop. Then suddenly the shooting started,” he said. “I saw about 20-plus people, some were dead, some were screaming. On the left there were 10-plus people, some were dead.” The killer or killers then moved on to the Linwood mosque and killed a further 10 people. 01:13 Eyewitnesses describe horror of Christchurch mosque shooting – video In a statement just after 4pm local time, the police said Christchurch was in lockdown and urged people to stay indoors.<doc-sep>Four people were taken into custody following the deadly shooting Multiple people have been killed following a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand NEW ZEALAND (NEWS 1130) – At least 49 people have been killed following a shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. “We have undoubtedly experienced an attack today that is unprecedented,” New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “Unlike anything that we have experienced before.” The prime minister confirmed four people were taken into custody but said three were connected to the attack. She said one of the suspects has publicly stated to be Australian born. Police say one of the suspects arrested is a man in his 20s who has been “charged with murder.” “These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand and in fact have no place in the world,” Ardern added. “You may have chosen us, but we utterly reject and condemn you,” the prime minister said. New Zealand’s national security level has been lifted from low to high. “We are dealing with a very serious and tragic series of events in the Christchurch area,” said Commissioner Mike Bush with NZ Police. “They involve multiple fatalities.” Bush said police also stopped two improvised explosive devices found in different vehicles. Bush also confirmed that a hospital was a target but no other details were provided. “There were a number of IEDs attached to vehicles that we also stopped,” Bush added. “They’ve been made safe by the defence force but that does go to the seriousness of this situation.” “Let’s not presume that the danger is gone,” he added. Bush he said the motive is still unknown, “we are still looking at the circumstances that surround that. It doesn’t get any more serious in this country.” A facility where people can get more information about their loved ones was put up by police, Bush said. “Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high,” police tweeted. 2/5 however we can confirm there have been a number of fatalities. Police is currently at a number of scenes. We understand that there will be many anxious people but I can assure New Zealanders that Police is doing all it can to resolve this incident. — New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) March 15, 2019 Officers asked people to stay away from the area and to remain indoors until further notice. A live stream of the incident apparently taken by a shooter surfaced online; police have confirmed its authenticity and are asking people to stop circulating the “extremely distressing footage.” “We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed,” police tweeted. The same person is believed to have shared a manifesto online before the shooting. Schools also remained in lockdown for multiple hours. “It is clear that this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” said Ardern earlier in the day, calling it an act of “unprecedented violence” that has no place in New Zealand. 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 @nzpolice. The Police Commissioner will be making a public statement at 5pm. I will update everyone again later this evening. — Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) March 15, 2019 “We were not a target because we are a safe harbour for those who hate, we were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone racism… we were chosen for the very fact that we are none of these things,” Ardern added. Witness Len Peneha told the Associated Press he saw a man dressed in black enter the Masjid Al Noor mosque and then heard dozens of shots, followed by people running from the mosque in terror. “I saw dead people everywhere,” Peneha told the Associated Press. He says he also saw the gunman flee before emergency services arrived. “We urge New Zealanders to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour,” police tweeted. They also ask all mosques nationally to shut their doors and to refrain from visiting these premises until further notice. Members of the Bangladesh cricket team were reportedly on their way to one of the mosques when the shooting broke out. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal said the team “got saved from active shooters,” calling it a frightening experience on Twitter. All members of the Bangladesh Cricket Team in Christchurch, New Zealand are safely back in the hotel following the incident of shooting in the city. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in constant contact with the players and team management.#christchurchMosqueAttack — Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 15, 2019 A cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh scheduled to start Saturday was canceled after the team’s narrow escape. Meantime, Canada’s prime minister has joined a number of other leaders in condemning the attacks on Friday. “Attacking people during prayers is absolutely appalling, and Canada strongly condemns today’s shootings in New Zealand,” Justin Trudeau says. “Our thoughts and hearts go out to the victims and their families, and we join New Zealanders and Muslim communities around the world in grieving.” Attacking people during prayers is absolutely appalling, and Canada strongly condemns today’s shootings in New Zealand. Our thoughts and hearts go out to the victims and their families, and we join New Zealanders and Muslim communities around the world in grieving. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 15, 2019 Mass shootings rare in New Zealand Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. It has been rebuilding since an earthquake hit several years ago, killing 185 people and destroying a number of downtown buildings. Mass shootings are rare in New Zealand. The deadliest shooting in modern history before Friday’s attack happened in 1990 in the small town of Aramoana, when a gunman — David Gray — shot and killed 130 people after a dispute with a neighbour. “This is completely unprecedented for New Zealand,” Chelsea Daniels, a local reporter with News Talk ZB said.<doc-sep>
At least 49 people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques full of worshipers attending Friday prayers on what the prime minister called “one of New Zealand’s darkest days.” One man was arrested and charged with murder in what appeared to be a carefully planned racist attack that shocked people across the nation of 5 million people. Police also defused explosive devices in a car. Two other people were being held in custody, and police said they were trying to determine how they might be involved. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the events in Christchurch represented “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence,” and that many of the victims could be migrants or refugees. In addition to the dead, she said more than 20 people were seriously wounded. “It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” Ardern said. As news of the attacks spread, messages of sympathy poured in from around the world. President Trump tweeted his condolences, and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement of support: “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.” 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 do. God bless all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2019 Police took three men and a woman into custody after the shootings. One person was later released. Though there was no reason to believe there were any more suspects, Ardern said the national security-threat level was being raised from low to high, the second-highest level. National carrier Air New Zealand canceled at least 17 flights in and out of Christchurch, saying it couldn’t properly screen customers and their baggage following the shootings. Authorities have not specified who they detained, but said none had been on any watch list. A man who claimed responsibility for the shootings left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he explained who he was and his reasoning for the attack. He said he was a 28-year-old white Australian and a racist. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that one of the people detained was an Australian-born citizen. (Los Angeles Times) Police Commissioner Mike Bush said Friday night that a man had been charged with murder. He did not say whether police believed that the same shooter was responsible for both attacks. Ardern alluded at a news conference to anti-immigrant sentiment as the possible motive, saying that although many people affected by the shootings may be migrants or refugees, “they have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home. They are us.” As for the suspects, Ardern said, “these are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand.” Bush said police had found two improvised explosive devices in one car, a clarification from an earlier statement that there were devices in multiple vehicles. He said authorities had disabled one and were in the process of disabling the second. The deadliest attack occurred at the Masjid al Noor mosque in central Christchurch at about 1:45 p.m., when 41 people were killed. Witness Len Peneha said he saw a man dressed in black enter the mosque and then heard dozens of shots, followed by people running from the mosque in terror. Peneha, who lives next door to the mosque, said the gunman ran out of the mosque, dropped what appeared to be a semiautomatic weapon in his driveway, and fled. He said he then went into the mosque to try to help. “I saw dead people everywhere. There were three in the hallway, at the door leading into the mosque, and people inside the mosque,” he said. “I don’t understand how anyone could do this to these people, to anyone. It’s ridiculous.” He said he helped about five people recover in his home. He said one was slightly injured. × New Zealand’s police commissioner and eyewitnesses discuss the deadly mass shootings at multiple mosques Friday in Christchurch. “I’ve lived next door to this mosque for about five years and the people are great, they’re very friendly,” he said.