New Zealand shooting: What we know so far after gunman kills 49 people and videos massacre at Christchurch mosques

Bonnie Christian15 March 2019

Forty-nine people have been killed in New Zealand following mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers on what the prime minister has called one of the country’s “darkest days.”

A gunman broadcast online live footage 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..

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the events in Christchurch represented "an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence" and acknowledged many of those affected may be migrants and refugees.

Forty-eight others are injured including children. 20 of them are in a serious condition.

 The gunman livestreamed the attack on Facebook.
AP

"It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," Ms Ardern said.

A 28-year-old white Australian man has claimed responsibility for the attack. The suspect has been named in media reports as Brenton Tarrant​.

Three men and a woman are in custody after the shootings, which shocked people across the nation of five million people. One suspect has been charged with murder.

While there was no reason to believe there were more suspects, Ms Ardern said the national security threat level was being raised to the second-highest level.

Footage from the live-stream showed the shooters weapon before he attacked the mosque.
AP

Here’s a timeline of what we know so far:

1.45pm (local time): Witness Len Peneha said he saw a man dressed in black enter a Christchurch city mosque in Hagley Park with an automatic weapon.

2.11pm: Police confirm they are attending an “evolving situation.” A witness reported hearing dozens of gunshots and saw what she thought was three people on the ground.

Local media report a shooting had occurred in a second mosque four miles away.

New Zealand: Christchurch shootings - In pictures

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2.17pm: A number of schools are locked down in Christchurch as people begin to emerge from the mosque covered in blood.

2.54pm: Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the situation is “serious and evolving” and involves and active shooter as he urges people to stay off the streets and remain indoors.

Police respond to mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch.
AP

3.20pm: Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said she is “shocked beyond words” at the events.

4pm: Police commissioner Mike Bush confirms one person is in custody but warns the people of Christchurch there may be others who pose a risk to their safety.

4.10pm: Mrs Arden calls the act an “extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence” and “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”.

Paramedics respond to one of two mass shootings in Christchurch. 
Reuters

5.30pm: Police said they have taken into custody three men and one woman over the shootings at the two mosques. One of the suspects was charged with murder.

New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police have defused a number of improvised explosive devices found on vehicles after the mosque shootings.

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. He said he considered it a terrorist attack. The man also live streamed the attack over Facebook.

6pm: Police said they are not aware of other suspects beyond the four who have been arrested after two mosque shootings but they can't be certain.

7pm: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that one of the four people taken into custody in New Zealand's mosque shootings was a 28-year-old white Australian who went to New Zealand only to plan and train for the attack.

7.30pm: Ms Arden confirmed their had been 40 casualties and another 20 people had been seriously injured in the attacks.

The number of fatalities was later said to be as many as 49. As many as 41 people died at one mosque and seven at another, one person died in hospital.

World leaders condemned the attacks citing it as “the latest example of rising racism and Islamophobia.”

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