New Zealand attack - live updates: Suspected gunman appears in court as Prime Minister Ardern promises ‘gun laws will change’

MPs in the UK will hold a minute's silence at 11am in memory of those killed in Christchurch, John Bercow has said.

BREAKING: Police are searching a property in Dunedin, around 200 miles to the south of Christchurch, in relation to the shooting. Neighbours have been evacuated while the search takes place.

"Police are currently in attendance at a property on Somerville Street, Dunedin," the police statement said. 

"This is a location of interest in relation to the serious firearms incident in Christchurch today. Evacuations of properties in the immediate area have taken place as a precaution."

Police in Auckland earlier conducted a controlled explosion after two suspicious packages were found at a railway station in the North Island city. 

Despite initial speculation the incident was linked to the Christchurch shootings, the area was later reopened and there was no suggestion it was related to the mosque terror attack.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward, of West Midlands Police, has echoed the statement issued by the Met Police regarding increased patrols at religious buildings. 

He said: "Officers will be engaging with key religious buildings today to reassure local people.

"If any families are directly affected by the attack, West Midlands Police is ready to support in any way we can."

France is also increasing security measures at mosques and other religious sites after the deadly attack.

An Australian senator has been condemned after he blamed the New Zealand terror attack on Muslim immigration.

In the wake of the killings, Fraser Anning tweeted: "Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?"

In a statement shared by an Australian journalist on Twitter, the Queensland senator also wrote: "As always, left-wing politicians and the media will rush to claim that the causes of today's shootings lie with gun laws or those who hold nationalist views but this is all cliched nonsense.

"The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place."

The remarks were denounced by Sajid Javid, who accused the senator of stoking extremism.

Mr Javid tweeted: "At a time for grieving and reflection, this Australian senator fraser-anning fans the flames of violence & extremism.

"Australians will be utterly ashamed of this racist man. In no way does he represent our Australian friends."

Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison said: "The remarks by Senator Fraser Anning blaming the murderous attacks by a violent, right-wing, extremist terrorist in New Zealand on immigration are disgusting.

"Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian Parliament."

Video appears to show moment of Christchurch terror arrest

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice section for New Zealand to reflect the latest shootings in Christchurch. 

Here it is in full:

There has been a series of shootings in multiple locations in Christchurch. If you are in the area are advised to remain vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities. The British High Commission in Wellington is in contact with the New Zealand authorities and urgently seeking further information. Anyone worried that a British national may have been affected should call the New Zealand Police hotline: (+64) 0800 115 019 from within New Zealand or register with the Restoring Family Links (RFL) website from overseas.

Some more on the suspect in the New Zealand mosque shootings, who appears to have described himself as an "ordinary white man" who "decided to take a stand".

Brenton Tarrant, 28, from Australia, was named in media reports in his home country as the gunman who appeared to have live-streamed the attack in Christchurch on Facebook as he shot victims in a mosque.

In a 74-page manifesto, believed to have been written by Tarrant, he describes anti-immigrant motives, saying the victims were a "large group of invaders" who he says "seek to occupy my peoples lands and ethnically replace my own people (sic)".

Police are yet to officially name him as a suspect.