New Zealand Christchurch mosque shooting Highlights: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi thanked Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for making personal efforts in helping the families of Ahmed Iqbal Jahangir and Farhaj Ahsan reach New Zealand in time. In a tweet posted earlier, Owaisi sought urgent assistance from Swaraj, providing her with Ahsan’s details. He also said that the MEA was putting all efforts to expedite the visa approval process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed his deep shock and sadness at the loss of innocent lives in Friday’s terrorist attacks at the places of worship in Christchurch.
Mass shootings at two mosques killed 49 people in Christchurch city of New Zealand. Prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, called the incident as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” as authorities detained four people and defused explosive devices in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack. A gunman broadcast live footage on Facebook of the attack on one mosque in the city of Christchurch, mirroring the carnage played out in video games, after publishing a “manifesto” in which he denounced immigrants, calling them “invaders”.
New Zealand was placed on its highest security threat level, Ardern said, adding that four people taken into custody held extremist views but had not been on any police watchlists. “It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” Ardern said, call this “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”.
Authorities have not elaborated on who they detained. But 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 his actions.
Ardern at a news conference alluded to anti-immigrant sentiment as the possible motive, saying that while 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.
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi thanked Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for making personal efforts in helping the families of Ahmed Iqbal Jahangir and Farhaj Ahsan reach New Zealand in time. In a tweet posted earlier, Owaisi sought urgent assistance from Swaraj, providing her with Ahsan's details. He also said that the MEA was putting all efforts to expedite the visa approval process.
An Indian-origin man was injured in the Christchurch terror attacks in New Zealand on Friday. Khursheed Jahangir, brother of Ahmed Iqbal Jahangir, said his brother was injured during the attack and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital in Christchurch. "He is injured.He is recovering in a hospital now. The latest information we received is that he is undergoing a surgery. We have seen the video. He has been shot in the chest and we are trying to reach Indian embassy people and local helpline numbers," Khursheed Jahangir said.
The Bangladesh cricket team escaped unhurt despite the fact that they were in close vicinity of the shooting attack on a mosque. Bangladesh's ongoing tour of New Zealand has been called off owing to the "unprecedented act of violence" in which 49 people were killed. The Bangladesh team, which was about to enter the the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Hagley Park to offer prayers, escaped unscathed. "We are very thankful that we weren't caught in the crossfire, but what we saw was straight out of a movie scene. We could see bloodstained people staggering out of the mosque," Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mashud said.
Facebook said that it had quickly removed a live video from the suspected gunman in twin mosque shootings that killed at least 49 people in New Zealand. The 28-year-old shooter, who has been arrested, published a racist manifesto on Twitter before livestreaming his rampage. "Police alerted us to a video on Faceook shortly after the livestream commenced and we quickly removed both the shooter's Facebook and Instragram accounts and the video," Facebook said, adding, "We're also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we're aware."
India's High Commission in New Zealand has been ascertaining details about the possibility of Indians being affected in the Christchurch attacks amidst unconfirmed reports that nine Indian nationals were missing after the shootings. In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that India's High Commission in New Zealand is in touch with local authorities for more information.
U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the "horrible massacre" at two mosques in New Zealand on Friday, a deadly attack that killed 49 people. The White House has called the attack a "vicious act of hate." New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned as terrorism. "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," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.
PM Narendra Modi wrote a letter to New Zealand PM and laid stress on India's strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations. The attack on two mosques in New Zealand on Friday, which left 49 people dead and many injured, came almost a month after Pulwama terror attack in India. 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the Pulwama terrorist attack.
Attacks on two mosques in New Zealand on Friday which left at least 49 people dead have sparked horror, revulsion and dismay around the world. "With this attack, hostility towards Islam that the world has been idly watching and even encouraging for some time, has gone beyond the boundaries of individual harassment to reach the level of mass killing," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "If measures are not taken right away, news of other disasters will follow this one... I am calling on the world, in particular the West, to take quick measures," he said.
Hyderabad: Khurshid Jahangir, brother of Ahmed Jahangir, who was shot at in Friday's mosque attack, seeks visa to travel to New Zealand to visit his ailing brother. According to Khurshid, his brother was injured in the attack and underwent surgery at a hospital.
Online accounts linked to gun attacks that killed 49 people and wounded at least 20 at two New Zealand mosques on Friday had in recent days circulated white supremacist imagery and extreme right-wing messages celebrating violence against Muslims and minorities on social media and message boards. Read more: New Zealand mosque attacker’s plan began and ended online
Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli has said that at least 9 Indians are missing after the Friday's attack on two mosques, which left 49 people dead. 'As per updates received from multiple sources there are 9 missing persons of indian nationality/ origin. Official confirmation still awaited,' he wrote on his Twitter account.
After Friday's attacks on two mosques, which left 49 dead, Pope Francis assured 'all New Zealanders, and in particular the Muslim community, of his heartfelt solidarity', news agency AFP reported. In a telegram, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said, 'The pope was 'deeply saddened to learn of the injury and loss of life caused by the senseless acts of violence.'
Australian PM Scott Morrison today asked for flags to be flown at half-mast in a way to offer condolence for those killed in the attack.
Gunman broadcast live footage on Facebook of the attack on one mosque mirroring the carnage played out in video games, after publishing a 'manifesto' in which he denounced immigrants, calling them 'invaders'. New Zealand was placed on its highest security threat level, Ardern said, adding that four people taken into custody held extremist views but had not been on any police watchlists.
Police took three men and a woman into custody after the shootings, which shocked people across the nation of 5 million people. Authorities have not elaborated on who they detained. But 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 his actions.
Reportedly, the man who claimed responsibility for the shooting said he came to New Zealand only to plan and train for the attack. He said he was not a member of any organisation, but had donated to and interacted with many nationalist groups, though he acted alone and no group ordered the attack.
A video that was apparently live-streamed by the shooter shows the attack in horrifying detail. The gunman spends more than two minutes inside the mosque spraying terrified worshippers with bullets, again and again, sometimes re-firing at people he has already cut down.
He then walks outside to the street, where he shoots at people on the sidewalk. Children's screams can be heard in the distance as he returns to his car to get another rifle.
The gunman then walks back into the mosque, where there are at least two dozen people lying on the ground. After walking back outside and shooting a woman there, he gets back in his car, where the song "Fire" by English rock band "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" can be heard blasting from the speakers.
'I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11 where Islam & 1.3 bn Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror by a Muslim. This has been done deliberately to also demonize legitimate Muslim political struggles,' Pakistan PM Imran Khan tweeted.
Reportedly, people are held back behind cordons while the bomb disposal robot was sent in to get a closer look at them. A controlled explosion was heard soon after. The incident comes after mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers killed 40 people in Christchurch.
Due to a Police Cordon, Britomart Station and the surrounding precinct are closed. This means Trains and Buses are not operating. Southern, Western and Onehunga lines are terminating at Newmarket. Eastern Line is terminating at Panmure and The Strand. Updates to follow.
Police were rushed to the Britomart Train Station after they were called to a section of Galway street where backpacks were left unattended, local media reported. Explosions found there have been confirmed by the police as controlled detonations, local media reported.
While briefing the press, Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said one of the suspects taken into custody was an 'Australian-born citizen'.
"I condemn the violent, extremist, right-wing terrorist attack that has stolen the lives of so many innocent New Zealanders as they went about their peaceful practice of worship at their mosques in Christchurch today," he tweeted.
"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)," reads another tweet.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush has said the video circulating online, purportedly showing the New Zealand mosque shooting, is 'very disturbing' and 'shouldn't be in the public domain', reports Guardian. He adds that the police are trying to take it down from the internet.
The shooter in Christchurch mosque attack an Australian citizen and an "extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist", said Australian PM, news agency PTI reported.
Tearful rugby star Sonny Bill Williams said he hoped the victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre were in 'paradise' in an emotional video tribute on Friday. The devout Muslim, wearing a skull cap, wiped away tears several times in the brief footage which he filmed sitting in a car.
"At this stage we will not be discussing the offenders’ possible motivations or the causes of this incident. We have asked all mosques nationally to shut their doors, and advise that people refrain from visiting these premises until further notice," tweeted police.
Police are still treating this incident as ongoing and Christchurch residents are strongly urged to stay indoors and keep safe, and monitor the Police website and social media for further information. We continue to utilise every possible resource to resolve the situation.
"We can confirm that Police have been dealing with two shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, one at Deans Avenue and one at Linwood Avenue. Those locations remain locked down. We can confirm there have been a number of fatalities. We cannot at this stage confirm the precise number but it is significant," tweeted New Zealand police.
New Zealand police have lifted the lockdown of the schools in Christchurch. 'Police can now confirm the lockdown of schools throughout Christchurch has been lifted. We would like to reassure members of the public that there is a large Police presence in the city and the safety of the community is our priority,' tweeted police.
Mike Bush, New Zealand Police on shooting at a mosque in Christchurch: Four people in custody; one woman, three men. We are still looking at the circumstances around it. Let’s not presume that the danger is gone.
Police have taken four persons into custody— three men and one woman. Mike Bush, the police chief, said several explosive devices were found attached to cars in the city and they have now been defused.
"Due to the ongoing serious firearms incident in Central Christchurch Police would like to remind all parents and caregivers that schools across the city remain in lock down.There is no timeframe at this stage for when the lock down will be lifted. The children are being taken care of by schools. On advice from Police, schools will communicate directly with parents when the lock down is lifted.The safety of the community is our priority," Police said.
Mass shootings are rare in New Zealand, which tightened its gun laws to restrict access to semi-automatic rifles in 1992, two years after a mentally disturbed man shot dead 13 people in the South Island town of Aramoana.
The Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been cancelled after Christchurch attack, news agency PTI reported. Bangladesh cricket team spokesman had said none of the players were hurt. The attack happened as some of Bangladesh players disembarked from a team bus and were about to enter the mosque. Players and members of the team's coaching staff were reportedly on their bus, approaching the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Hagley Park when the shooting broke out.
Several people were reported dead in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. According to local media reports, up to six people were dead. "A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," police said in a statement.
"Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the incident in Christchurch circulating online. We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed," tweeted Police.
Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, reacted on the mosque shooting
"I'm horrified by the reports I’m following of the serious shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. The situation is still unfolding but our thoughts and prayers are with our Kiwi cousins," said Australian PM.
"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," said New Zealand PM.
What has happened in Christchurch is an extraordinary act of unprecedented violence. It has no place in New Zealand. Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities – New Zealand is their home – they are us.
New Zealand police have asked all the Mosques to shut doors and not to visit until further notice.
"We ask all mosques nationally to shut their doors, and advise that people refrain from visiting these premises until further notice," tweeted Police