Hours after the incident took place, local police apprehended four people – three men and a woman – in connection with the attacks. One person out of the four has been charged with murder and will appear in court tomorrow. Police have also informed that officers intercepted one vehicle with two explosives which were later defused without any further harm. “It does not get more serious than this”, NZ Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
New Zealand terror attack at two mosques in Christchurch city: Here’s what we know so far
1. A mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch city’s Hagley Park district in New Zealand today left at least 49 people dead and 20 others wounded. Christchurch is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
2. Gunmen, at least five, opened fire at the Masjid Al Noor and the Linwood Masjid Mosque during Friday afternoon prayers. In light of the attacks, all mosques across New Zealand have been asked to remain closed.
3. The entire city was cordoned off soon as the incident took place and security forces are on red alert. Hours later the lockdown was lifted on schools in Christchurch. However, restrictions remain in the city. The police had cautioned residents against leaving home. "Close your doors until you hear from us again," Police advised citizens.
4. Coincidently, the Bangladesh cricket team was on the way to one of the mosques for prayers when the shooting began. “They were on the bus, which was just pulling up to the mosque when the shooting began. They are shaken but good,” a Bangladesh cricket team official told news agency Reuters. The last match of New Zealand – Bangladesh Test series has been cancelled in the wake of the incident.
5. As per latest update, Air New Zealand has cancelled at least 17 flights in and out of Christchurch, saying it could not screen customers and their baggage following deadly shootings at two mosques.
6. India's High Commission in New Zealand on Friday said that any Indian nationals affected by the attacks on two Christchurch mosques can contact the mission for assistance. However, no reports of any Indian national being affected in the incident has been reported.
7. One of the shooters has been confirmed as an Australian citizen by Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison. "New Zealand, like Australia, is home to people from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. There is absolutely no place in either of our countries for the hatred and intolerance that has bred this extremist, terrorist violence and we condemn it," he tweeted.
8. According to a witness, the shooter was “dressed in a military-style, camouflage outfit, and carrying an automatic rifle had started randomly shooting people in the mosque”, reported Reuters.
9. Minutes after the incident was reported, a video went viral of social media, purportedly of the attack. However, this video was not confirmed by the Police and Bush said that it is very disturbing and should not be in the public domain.
10. Prior to this, New Zealand's worst mass shooting took place in 1990 when a gunman killed as many as 13 men, women and children in a 24-hour rampage in Aramoana village. Later he was killed by the police.