Another references the Crusades, and others are linked to white supremacist slogans and leaders.Īs The Verge reports, the shooter’s methods - including his video, photos and manifesto - seem to be designed to draw attention by spreading rapidly on social media. Some of the writing appears to reference battles with the Ottoman Empire. Rifles apparently used in the shootings, as well as a bulletproof vest and ammunition shown in photos the suspect posted on Twitter, are marked with white writing. He also referenced far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011. The suspected also published a 74-page “manifesto” that explained his motivations for the attack and his anti-immigrant views. The man had a gun license he acquired in November 2017. The suspected gunman, which media has identified as Australian Brenton Tarrant, used five guns, including two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and a lever-action firearm, the New Zealand prime minister said at a press conference. Police said the man was in possession of a firearm but with the intent of assisting police. Two other people are in custody and police are working to determine whether they were working with the primary gunman.Ī fourth person was arrested Friday but was later released. One man has been arrested and charged with murder. The International Committee of the Red Cross is maintaining a list of people who are missing as well as those who have reported they are safe. Many of those affected will be members of our migrant communities – New Zealand is their home – they are us. What has happened in Christchurch is an extraordinary act of unprecedented violence. “New Zealand is their home - they are us,” she said of the immigrant community. The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said many of the victims are members of the migrant community, and she condemned the “unprecedented act of violence” that “has no place” in that country. The patients range from young children to adults with injuries from minor to critical. In addition to those who have been killed, New Zealand health officials say they are treating 48 people with gunshot wounds at Christchurch Hospital.
Police have also found two improvised explosive devises in a suspect’s car. New Zealand Police said they are unable to provide details about what lead up to the attacks as the investigation is ongoing.
There are fewer details about the second attack at the mosque on Linwood Avenue, where seven people were killed. He then walked onto the street and shot at people on the sidewalk before going back into the mosque. The video shows the gunman spent more than two minutes in the mosque shooting worshippers. The Associated Press is reporting the shooter livestreamed 17 minutes of the attack on Facebook, capturing the murders in detail. A view of the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue in Christchurch, New Zealand, taken in 2014.