49 killed in mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand
Channel: fire videos
Date: 16/03/2019

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A violent attack on two mosques Friday struck at the very heart of New Zealand, a country that prides itself on being both peaceful and diverse, after a gunman opened fire during afternoon prayers and killed at least 49 people.

More than 40 others are being treated for injuries sustained in the attacks in Christchurch, police said. Two are in critical condition, including a 4-year-old.

New Zealand police have charged a 28-year-old man with murder and have taken two others into custody. A fourth person turned out to have been arrested on an unrelated charge.

"You don't think that something like this could happen in New Zealand," a young woman named Yasmin Ali told reporters. "In Christchurch of all places. We're such a small community. We're so kind and loving, so I just don't understand why someone would hurt us like this."

Most of those killed were worshiping at Al Noor Mosque when the gunman entered, killing at least 41 people. A second shooting at the Linwood Mosque, about 3 miles away, left seven people dead there. Another victim in one of the shootings died at the hospital.

Farid Ahmed told The Guardian he was at Al Noor during the attack and heard the shooter change magazines seven times. "When the shooting started people started rushing out, running out and the door is closed," recalled Ahmed, whose shirt was stained with blood. "There was a bench and I lied down and [hid] my half body under the bench and my legs are out, pretending to stop my breath."

Len Peneha said he lives next door to Al Noor and saw a black-clad man wearing a helmet enter the mosque. The sound of dozens of shots rang out, he told The Associated Press. Peneha said the man ran out, dropping a gun as he fled.

Peneha went inside to try help the victims. "I saw dead people everywhere. There were three in the hallway, at the door leading into the mosque, and people inside the mosque," he told the news service. "I don't understand how anyone could do this to these people, to anyone. It's ridiculous."

A man named Hassan told the Guardian he was worshiping at Linwood mosque when the shooting there started.

He said women around him rose up and screamed, "Do not come here," at the gunman that and some of them charged at the assailant.

"The shooter was screaming a lot and waving the gun in every direction, shooting, shooting, shooting," Hassan said. "I don't know who of my friends is dead or alive now. I am waiting. Police told me: 'I am sorry, this is the first time this has ever happened in this country.' "

Before the shootings, a man who identified himself as a white man from Australia allegedly posted a 74-page, hate-filled screed online, and then live-streamed the killings on Facebook. He has not been publicly identified by officials.

The massacre rocked a small, peaceful nation where such events are extremely rare. Following the attack, New Zealand's national security level was changed from "low" to "high."