Live Updates: 49 killed in coordinated terrorist shootings at 2 mosques in New Zealand; 3 suspects in custody
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Live Updates: 49 killed in coordinated terrorist shootings at 2 mosques in New Zealand; 3 suspects in custody
KARMA ALLEN, ABC News 1 hour 9 minutes ago 
Live Updates: 49 killed in coordinated terrorist shootings at 2 mosques in New Zealand; 3 suspects in custody originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
At least 49 people were killed in a shooting attack on the southern island of New Zealand on Friday when a gunman opened fire inside two mosques.
The shootings in Christchurch, categorized as a terrorist attack, included 41 deaths at one mosque, according to authorities. Christchurch Hospital also confirmed it was treating 48 people for gunshot wounds, ranging from minor to critical. One person died at the hospital.
(MORE: Survivors describe harrowing escape from attack on New Zealand mosques)
The gunman, who was dressed in tactical gear, appeared to livestream video of the shooting on social media, according to New Zealand police, documenting his trip from his vehicle and into the worship center in central Christchurch, where he opened fire indiscriminately.
"This is one of New Zealand’s darkest days," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a press conference Friday afternoon.
Four people, three men and one woman, were taken into custody in the hours following the attack. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed one of them was an Australian citizen. The man has been charged with murder and will appear in court Saturday, police said.
Police later said one of the four taken into custody had a firearm, but was not connected to the attack. The other two continue to be investigated.
Ardern said none of the suspects were on any active terrorist watch lists and it was "not a matter of someone slipping under the radar."
The shooter also opened fire in the surrounding area outside of the mosques. Police said they recovered two improvised explosive devices attached to vehicles in the area, but they were rendered safe.
"A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter. Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high," New Zealand Police tweeted. "Police recommend that residents across Christchurch remain off the streets and indoors until further notice."
(MORE: 5 dead in shooting at Florida bank, suspect in custody: Police)
A spokesperson for the Canterbury District Health Board said it activated its mass casualty plan, putting public locations in the area on lockdown.
"Christchurch schools will be locked down until further notice," the police department tweeted. "Police thanks the public for their cooperation and will provide further updates to keep residents informed."
Those lockdowns were lifted several hours after the attack ended.
Witnesses said the attack occurred just before 1:40 p.m. local time as the worship leader gave the sermon.
"The Sheikh was giving the sermon on Friday prayers and it was 1:42 [p.m.] and the gun starts shooting and he just came in and he was shooting ad hoc," eyewitness Ramzan Ali told The Associated Press.
(MORE: 3 dead, 4 injured in shooting at California bowling alley)
Arden made reference to the nationalities of the victims, saying, "Many of those directly involved might be immigrants, refugees who chose to be here. They are us. The person who has done this, is not."
Morrison described the shootings as having been perpetrated by an "extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist, that has taken the lives -- stolen the lives -- in a vicious, murderous attack that has claimed so many New Zealanders."
Ali said he survived the shooting by hiding beneath a bench.
"Actually I haven't seen him because I just lie down under the bench thinking that if I get out, I'll get shot," he said. "I'm just keeping my fingers crossed so I could be alive."
"I was the last guy to come out of the mosque after the shooting stopped and on the doors there were a lot of bodies," he added.
Police said shots were fired in at least two mosque locations. Residents were urged to stay off the streets and to avoid all mosques until further notice.
This iframe is not allowed"Again we are unsure if there are any other locations outside of that area that are under threat," police said. "I want to ask anyone that was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today, not to go, to close your doors until you hear from us again."
Len Peneh, who lives next door to one of the mosques, told the AP that he "saw dead people everywhere" when he went inside to help.
"There were three in the hallway, at the door leading into the mosque, and people inside the mosque," he said. "It's unbelievable nutty. I don't understand how anyone could do this to these people, to anyone. It's ridiculous."
He described the gunman as a white man who was wearing a helmet with some kind of device on top.
"I've lived next door to this mosque for about five years and the people are great, they're very friendly," he said. "I just don't understand it."
(MORE: The US averaged at least 1 deadly mass shooting a month in 2018)
Officials said they were working to remove "extremely distressing footage" taken at the scene and urged social media users not to share it.
"Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the incident in Christchurch circulating online," police said in a tweet. "We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed."
ABC News' Matt Foster and Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.
Tags
Who is online
149 visitors
This is what comes from tolerating hatred. Islamaphobia is not benign hate...
Neither is anti semitism or Israeliphobia but those of you on the left seam to have no problem with it. I you all left that congresswoman off cheap.
White-supremacist terrorism.
Such an ordinary thing.....
Can we all agree that this is an act of terrorism not just hate?
It's too bad NZ doesn't have the death penalty
Well said. The unfortunate part is that instead of focusing on that, some here insist on politicizing it as a forum for Trump haters instead of the human tragedy it is. My sincere and utmost prayers and condolences to the victims, their families, and their lived ones.
Officials in Christchurch are calling it an act of terrorism and, are treating it as such. FYI.
What a crazy f#$king world this has become, happy to be on the back nine of life.
[deleted]
[Please do not repeat this comment again anywhere on this site.]
[deleted.]
[This comment will not be repeated anywhere.]
[deleted]
I don't think Trump is "responsible" for this mass murder, that would be a ridiculous thing to say. The person who did it is responsible.
But the fact is that he mentions Trump in his explanation for why he did it, along with many many other things he mentioned.
Trump is the jackass that instigates or "goes along with" certain themes and then when something happens says "why are you mentioning my name"?
This mass murder in New Zealand was based on the shooter's racist beliefs. A down under form of white nationalism. The shooter openly states this.
Trump had to be dragged into denouncing white nationalism a few years ago. He was endorsed by David Duke, and was given a "Heil Trump" salute at a meeting of a white supremacist group led by Richard Spencer the day after the '16 election. White supremacists are big fans of Trump, whether you like it or not. He retweeted white supremacists more than 10 times during the '16 campaign. Of course they noticed that. Then there was Charlottesville, where Trump tried to thread the needle with his comments so as not to offend the white nationalist sympathizers.
Do we wonder why the shooter mentions Trump with approval?
Like I said, Trump is not responsible for the shooting, but he is responsible for the shooter feeling he has something in common with Trump.
[deleted]
lol. use you google.
you have a preconception that trump is being unfairly picked on by "haters".
why not expand your thinking with some reality?
Have you revisited the other article?
The purple ink had to do with KDM's complaint that Tessy hadn't provided a url for her quoted comments ( instead of the linked words)
You misread the whole situation in your anger.
It had nothing to do with any thing Perrie did or did not say or the seed.
Now, 90% of the comments were deemed off topic and have been removed while it was locked by another Mod.
So, please, let's just drop the whole hatred BS that you are exacerbating.
[deleted]
Far right nutcases are out there on social media claiming this was a "deep state" attack.
I removed this nutjobs twitter handle.