Christchurch, New Zealand: 49 people have reportedly been killed and Dozens of people are seriously injured in Mosque Shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand.
At incident occurred 7:30 am when a heavily armed gunman in black attire wearing military gear entered the Masjid Al Noor mosque in front of a public park in Christchurch. Linwood Mosque was also targetted in this attack resulting in 7 casualties.
New Zealand’s police commissioner Mike Bush said in a press conference that a total of 49 people have been killed in this attack. 41 people were killed at the Al Noor Mosque, 7 were killed at the Linwood Mosque and a one man died at the Christchurch Hospital.
They further added that authorities had arrested 4 people in relation to this incident. And one suspect was let go off believing that only 3 people are involved in this incident.
Off the 3 people in custody police have charged one man in his late 20s with murder. Police are also working on determining on the other 2 suspects might have been involved in this incident, Mr. Bush said.
He also added that police have also defused 2 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that the suspect had rigged to their vehicle.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has condemned this attack calling it “an extraordinary act of unprecedented violence.”
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.
— Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) March 15, 2019
Mr. Bush has also advised people not the go to any mosque and has also asked mosques to “close your doors until you hear from us again.”
Authorities believe that this was likely a premeditated terrorist attack because the attacker chose to carry out this on Friday as Mosque are filled with people who are there for their ‘Friday Prayers’.
And also because of the explosive device found on the suspect’s vehicle authorities believe that he had planned to set off the explosive device after carrying out his attack at the mosques.
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