New Zealand shooting: 4 in custody over firing at Christchurch mosques; 49 dead

Local media said there were multiple casualties at one mosque and said another had been evacuated, and there were reports that members of the Bangladesh cricket team were also present at one site.

15/03/2019 13:55:51

As per the latest update, death toll in the Christchurch mosque shooting has reached 49.

15/03/2019 11:10:03

New Zealand have police warned against sharing footage relating to a deadly shooting in Christchurch on Friday, after a video online showed a gunman filming himself firing at worshippers inside a mosque.

15/03/2019 11:08:42

Hours after the Christchurch mass shooting, Los Angeles police department had deployed police around mosques in the city. They wrote on Twitter: The LAPD is monitoring the horrific events unfolding in Christchurch, New Zealand.

15/03/2019 11:04:14

In a recent update, the New Zealand Police have ended the lockdown on schools, allowing worried parents to pick up their children. The two mosques are still under lockdown as is the hospital where the victims were taken.

15/03/2019 11:02:36

Indian Community in New Zealand: Of the 200,000 strong Indian Diaspora about 75,000 persons are estimated to be of Indian passport holders and 1,25,000 are PIOs. Out these PIOs, 35,000 persons are estimated to be of Fijian-Indian descent. They mainly hail from Gujarat and Punjab and are concentrated in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

Most of them are engaged in grocery business and dairy farming. There are also several professionals including doctors, professors, engineers, chartered accountants and computer experts. Most people of Indian origin have acquired New Zealand citizenship.

15/03/2019 10:50:37

Police has not yet confirmed the total number of people killed in the attacks and an official confirmation of the death toll is still awaited.

15/03/2019 10:45:02

Local news reports suggest that multiple explosive devices were found in cars aftter the mass shooting at Christchurch mosques.

15/03/2019 10:41:06

New Zealand and Bangladesh on Friday (March 15) cancelled the third Test after the henious gunfire incident in Christchurch killing as many as nine people on Friday morning.

15/03/2019 10:39:43

Alhamdulillah Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque...we r extremely lucky...never want to see this things happen again....pray for us— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) March 15, 2019

15/03/2019 10:28:05

New Zealand police say they have defused a number of improvised explosive devices found on vehicles after mosque shootings, reported news agency Associated Press.

15/03/2019 10:24:13

As per New Zealand police, three men and one woman have been taken into custody over the shootings at 2 mosques in Christchurch.

Background

 Christchurch: Armed police in New Zealand swung into action in Central Christchurch on Friday after reports of shooting at multiple mosques in the South Island city. Local media reported up to forty-nine people were dead and the South Island city was placed in lockdown as police hunted for an "active shooter." "A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," police said in a statement.

"A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," police said in a statement. "Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high."

"Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high." The Masjid al Noor was filled with worshippers, including members of the Bangladesh cricket team.

One witness told stuff.co.nz he was praying in the Deans Ave mosque when he heard shooting and saw his wife lying dead on the footpath outside when he fled. Another man said he saw children being shot.

"There were bodies all over me," he said. An eyewitness told Radio New Zealand he heard shots fired and four people were lying on the ground, with "blood everywhere".
Police commissioner Mike Bush said all schools in the city had been placed in lockdown in response to "a serious ongoing firearms incident".
"Police urge anyone in central Christchurch to stay off the streets and report any suspicious behaviour," he said in a statement.

Police commissioner Mike Bush said all schools in the city had been placed in lockdown in response to "a serious ongoing firearms incident".

"Police urge anyone in central Christchurch to stay off the streets and report any suspicious behaviour," he said in a statement. An eyewitness told Radio New Zealand he heard shots fired and four people were lying on the ground, with "blood everywhere".

There was no official information on casualties but the New Zealand Herald said at least one person was killed. ESPN Cricinfo reporter Mohammed Isam said members of the Bangladesh cricket team, who are due to play a Test match in Christchurch tomorrow escaped from the mosque.

"They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval," he tweeted.