In Pictures: Gunmen Open Fire At Christchurch Mosques Killing 49 in New Zealand Attack

Police took three men and a woman into custody after the shootings, which shocked people across the nation of 5 million people. One of the suspects was later charged with murder. AFP IMAGE

The mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers killed 49 people in New Zealand as authorities charged one person, detained three others and defused explosive devices in what appeared to be a carefully planned racist attack./ PTI IMAGE

"It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," Ardern said. AFP IMAGE

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the events in Christchurch represented "an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence" and acknowledged many of those affected may be migrants and refugees. In addition to the dead, she said more than 20 people were seriously wounded. AFP IMAGE

A man who claimed responsibility for the shootings left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he explained who he was and his reasoning for the attack. He said he was a 28-year-old white Australian and a racist. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that one of the four people detained was an Australian-born citizen. AFP IMAGE

While there was no reason to believe there were more suspects, Ardern said the national security threat level was being raised to the second-highest level. AFP IMAGE