UPDATE: Dozens Killed in Coordinated Terrorist Attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Friday, 15 March 2019 07:54

Written by Janet Walker

Four suspects are in custody in what is being called a coordinated terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 49 dead after gunmen entered two separate mosques during noontime prayers and opened fire.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said during a video press conference, "This is clearly one of New Zealand's darkest days. There is no place in New Zealand and in the world for this extreme act of violence. We share common values and the one we place a currency on right now is our compassion. And secondly, the strongest possible condemnation of the ideology of the people who have did this. You may have chosen us but we utterly reject and condemn you."

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"My warmest sympathy and best wishes go 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," President Trump said via Twitter.

The Suspect

Brenton Tarrant, a supporter of President Donald Trump and who specifically mentioned the President in a 74-page dossier called Trump, "a symbol of renewed white identity." Tarrant is considered an extremist with beliefs that have no place in any society.

The Attacks

Christchurch, New Zealand, located in the southwestern Pacific and beneath Australia, is still in shock as a nation and as a city over the extreme violence brought upon then when two gunmen entered two separate Mosques opened fire upon those engaged in noontime prayers leaving unprecedented carnage.

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Witness Len Peneha says 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. He says he also saw the gunman flee before emergency services arrived. Peneha says he went into the mosque to try and help: "I saw dead people everywhere."

Nearly one day later, it is early Saturday Morning in New Zealand, four suspects have been apprehended and three men and one woman. One man is arrested and has been identified as an Australia citizen. It has been reported he used Facebook to live stream the 17-minute attack on the Dean's Avenue Mosque.

The social media giant worked with authorities to immediately shutter all the attacker's social media accounts. The video has not been authenticated.

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In Christchurch, the attacks were on the Linwood Avenue Mosque and Dean's Avenue Mosque. The larger of the two, the Al Noor Mosque on Dean's Avenue, an attracted a cross demographic of worshipers including the Bangladesh Cricket team who were in Christchurch.

More than 300 had gathered to participate in the noontime prayer services when the gunman entered the mosque and came upon the worshipers from behind. Many were gunned down without knowing what was happening. More than 30 died on site at this

A neighbor, multiple media have reported, who lived beside the Dean's Avenue Mosque, Al Noor, said he saw a man dressed in black enter the building and then he heard the shots. He said, the shooting lasted more 10-15 minutes. He also reported to media he saw the man leave the mosque and drop the large weapon in his driveway.

The Bangladesh cricket team, who are visiting the city, according to twitter escaped the Al Noor Mosque when the shooting began. Tamin Iqbal Khan tweeted "the entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers." @tamimofficial28

The Linwood Avenue Mosque, a smaller place of worship, was also hit. At least ten died on site, with three killed outside the mosque.

Planned Carnage

Reports from New Zealand indicate this "extreme act" was a well-planned terror attack. Police discovered two of the suspects vehicles were rigged with explosives. Neither detonated. Christchurch police were able to secure the vehicles and employed all means to disarm the vehicles before they detonated and killed others.

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The Guardian reported police have confirmed a bomb in Strickland Street in Christchurch. "The bomb is located inside a beige Subaru that has crashed on Strickland Street, about three kilometres from the Al Noor Mosque where the shooting took place," The Guardian reported.

Death Toll

As of 7:00 PM Friday evening, nearly 12 hours ago, forty persons had been killed in the violence. At 3:00 AM New Zealand time, nine more had been killed bringing the total to 49 dead. More than 20 were critically injured and in treatment at Christchurch medical center.

The death toll is expected to rise.

The is a developing story.