Another shooting attack on Muslims? Well, yes. This time it’s in New Zealand and it got thousands devastated. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the incidents as a terrorist attack, and one of the country's "darkest days". Three men and one woman are in custody, police commissioner Mike Bush said, but warned more suspects may be at large. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said one of those arrested was an Australian citizen. He described the suspected attacker as an "extremist right-wing violent terrorist".
What do we know at this point?
Witnesses told local media they ran for their lives and saw people bleeding on the ground outside the Al Noor mosque. A second mosque in the suburb of Linwood has been evacuated, and Police Commissioner Mike Bush said "multiple fatalities" were recorded at two locations. As yet, far fewer details have emerged from the second site.
Police emphasize that the situation is still evolving and have not said how many people have been injured or killed. Authorities have advised all mosques in the city to shut down until further notice, saying this was an unprecedented act of violence.
Live coverage of the New Zealand mosque shooting
It is not yet known how many shooters there were, but the Herald reports that one gunman is believed to be an Australian who has written a manifesto outlining his intentions. In it, he espouses far-right ideology and anti-immigrant ideology.
Footage taken by one shooter has emerged, which he appears to have live-streamed as he shot victims in a mosque. Police called on the public not to share the "extremely distressing" material online. Facebook said it had removed the shooter's Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as any support voiced for that crime.
What happened at the mosques?
The first report of an attack came from the Al Noor mosque, located in central Christchurch along Deans Avenue, facing Hagley Park. Witnesses there reported seeing people bleeding on the ground outside the building.
One unnamed survivor told TV New Zealand he saw a gunman shoot a man directly in the chest. The attacker reportedly targeted the men's prayer room in the mosque, then moved to the women's room. The witness said.
"What I did was basically just waiting and praying, God please, let this guy run out of bullets."
A Palestinian man, who did not wish to be named, told AFP news agency he saw a man shot in the head, and heard rapid gunfire. He said:
"I heard three quick shots, then after about 10 seconds it started again - it must have been an automatic, no one could pull a trigger that quick. Then people started running out. Some were covered in blood."
How are the authorities responding?
Multiple casualties have been brought to Christchurch Hospital, where there is a heavy police presence. A spokeswoman said Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has activated its mass casualty plan, according to New Zealand news site Stuff.co.nz. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted:
"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."
Who has been caught up in the attack?
As well as the numerous witness reports of casualties, the Bangladesh national cricket team appear to have narrowly escaped the shooting. A reporter following the team, who were due to play New Zealand in a now-cancelled test match on Saturday, tweeted that the team had "escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters".
Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus said most of the team had gone to mosque by bus and were about to go inside when the incident took place. He told the AFP news agency that:
"They are safe. But they are mentally shocked. We have asked the team to stay confined in the hotel."
Forty people have been killed and more than 20 seriously wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch. This is a very tragic news and we urge you all to pray to Allah (SWT) to give strength to the families of these people and also make Duas for deceased. Let others know and spread this news so that they can also offer Duas of Maghfirat.
See also: Quranic verses about death
Source: BBC News
