New Zealand attack - live updates: Suspected gunman appears in court as Prime Minister Ardern promises ‘gun laws will change’
At least 49 killed in mass shooting of worshippers in two mosques
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Your support makes all the difference.At least 49 people have been killed and dozens more are seriously injured after shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Witnesses described seeing bodies and “blood everywhere” following the attack at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch on Friday afternoon.
Police have charged an Australian citizen, Brenton Tarrant with murder,
Handcuffed and wearing a white prison suit, the 28-year-old smirked as he appeared Christchurch District Court but did not speak. His court-appointed lawyer made no application for bail or name suppression.
He was likely to face further charges, police said. Another three people were arrested in connection with the attack. One was later released, but two remain detained at the time of publication.
Tarrant ppeared to have live-streamed the attack and outlined his anti-immigrant motives in a manifesto posted online.
A search of a property in Dunedin, around 200 miles to the south, was carried out by police.
Videos and documents posted online appear to suggest that the shooter live-streamed his attack on Facebook and prepared an anti-immigrant “manifesto” prior to the shooting.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand's gun laws would be changed as a result of the attack. She later visited refugees in the city.
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A four-year-old child was wounded in the attack and is in a critical condition in hospital.
Officers are urging all New Zealanders to be vigilant as investigations continue.
"There is no guarantee the risk is limited to Canterbury," Mike Bush said.
A large police presence is expected in the city today.
Christchurch's mayor has said graves are being dug for the dozens of worshippers who were shot dead in the mosques.
Lianne Dalziel said city officials were working closely with the Muslim community on the specific requirements needed to carry out a large number of Islamic funerals.
Jacinda Ardern has said that New Zealand's police officers are focused on extremism "of every kind".
She has declared an intention to change the country's gun laws in the aftermath of the attack.
"Now is the time to change," she said.
The New Zealand leader has said that the mosque attackers were not based in Christchurch at the time of the incident.
Ms Ardern added that none of those arrested had a criminal record and were not on any watch lists.
Those affected in the attack include citizens from Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Jacinda Ardern has told a press conference that the suspected killer had five firearms.
She said two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and a lever-action firearm were found.
The attacker had obtained a gun licence in November 2017.
Christchurch District Court will remain closed to the public during the appearance of the suspected gunman today.
New Zealand Police said that this was due to the heightened security risk.
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