David Shanks says document ‘deliberately constructed to inspire murder and terrorism’, as more than 1,000 New Zealanders register to hand in guns
New Zealand’s chief censor has banned a document shared by the man allegedly responsible for killing 50 people in two Christchurch mosques.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people so far have opted to hand in their weapons following a ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs).
Continue reading...Leaders and worshippers escorted through cordon by police as life begins to return to normal
Muslim community leaders and worshippers have been escorted back to one of two mosques targeted in the New Zealand terror attack.
Two groups were taken through the cordon to Masjid Al Noor on Saturday morning, accompanied by a delegation of dignitaries. They received a briefing from officers on the street before being led to the front door where the shooting rampage that killed 50 began.
Continue reading...Vigils and silences held as country remembers the victims of the mosque shooting
Continue reading...Imam Gamal Fouda tells thousands that events leading to last week’s massacre ‘did not come overnight’
An imam who survived the terror attack at Al Noor mosque has declared New Zealand “unbreakable” in a sermon attended by thousands in Christchurch on Friday and called on world leaders eliminate hate speech, saying the massacre “did not come overnight”.
Speaking from a temporary stage set up in Hagley Park opposite the mosque, which is still surrounded by police tape a week after the attack, Imam Gamal Fouda said that in attempting to spread hate, the gunman who killed 50 people and injured 42 had instead sparked love and compassion.
Continue reading...New Zealand has banned military-style semi-automatic guns and assault rifles under tough new laws following the attacks on two Christchurch mosques. The changes, announced on Thursday by the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, also include a gun buyback scheme. The gun-law changes were effective immediately.
Continue reading...Jacinda Ardern asked New Zealand to remember the names of the victims of the Christchurch shooting, not that of the perpetrator. Here are their stories
Continue reading...Muslim associations have expressed despair that no one in government heeded their warnings about a rise in racism and violence
As the alleged killer sits in an isolated, maximum security jail cell on the outskirts of Christchurch, many people in New Zealand are wondering how an alt-right extremist who allegedly amassed an arsenal of military grade weapons went undetected for so long.
Holed up in a wooden bungalow in the seaside town of Dunedin, the alleged shooter was an active member of the local gun club and pumped weights at a South Dunedin gym. He was quiet, but not reclusive, and appears to have made no effort to hide his obsession with military grade weaponry.
Continue reading...New Zealand prime minister returns to city where 50 were killed as foreign minister heads to Turkey
Burials for the 50 people killed the New Zealand terrorist attack have begun in Christchurch as the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, returned to the city to pay her respects and comfort those affected by the killings.
On Wednesday, father and son Khaled and Hamza Mustafa, who arrived in New Zealand as refugees from Syria, were the first victims to be buried. The prime minister told reporters: “I cannot tell you how gutting it is to know that a family came here for safety and for refuge, and they should have been safe here.”
Continue reading...New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to Christchurch for her second visit since Friday's massacre in which 50 people were killed. First stop on her schedule was the Cashmere high school, to talk to staff and pupils about the attack, in which two students and a former student were killed. On arrival at the school, Ardern was greeted with a traditional haka ceremonial dance performed by students and teachers
The prime minister has spoken at Cashmere high school, which lost two students and a former student in Friday’s massacre
We’re going to wrap up the blog. Thank you for following along. Here’s what has happened today:
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New Zealand's prime minister has said she will never speak the name of the Christchurch attack suspect, and urged the public to remember the victims’ names instead. Addressing parliament for the first time since Friday’s attack, Jacinda Ardern said the accused would face 'the full force of the law'
• Ardern says she will never speak name of Christchurch suspect
Continue reading...MPs in New Zealand's parliament have paid tribute to the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks this afternoon, opening the day's session with a Muslim prayer
Continue reading...Prime minister says she will do everything she can to avoid attracting attention to Christchurch attack accused
Jacinda Ardern has vowed never to speak the name of the alleged Christchurch gunman, promising to do everything in her power to avoid creating notoriety around the attack in which 50 people have died.
Asked if she would like the trial to occur behind closed doors, New Zealand’s prime minister said that was not her decision to make. “One thing I can assure you – you won’t hear me speak his name,” she said.
Continue reading...When someone makes an inappropriate joke, or when a senator makes incendiary remarks, speak up
When I walked into work on Monday I told myself I was going to be strong. Then an Indigenous colleague pulled me aside and hugged me and I crumbled in her arms. She told me that the Indigenous community was so sorry for what has happened to our community, and we talked and cried. I, like many other Muslims, have felt the pain of the Christchurch mosque massacre so viscerally.
I was so shaken that I did not step out at all over the weekend.
Continue reading...Officials in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria examine Brenton Tarrant’s travels before attack
Authorities in Europe are working to establish whether the man suspected of carrying out the most deadly terrorist attack in New Zealand’s history had any links to far-right groups on the continent.
Since Friday, officials in Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece have begun formal investigations into the alleged gunman’s extensive travel through Europe in the years before he moved to New Zealand.
Continue reading...Students from various schools paid tribute to two of their peers who died in the Christchurch shooting by performing a haka, a ceremonial Maori dance to mourn the victims and honour the dead. They were joined by scores of fellow students to form a deafening chorus. At least 50 people were killed in the attack, which was the worst mass killing in New Zealand's history.
Continue reading...The owner of Gun City, David Tipple, has said his shop sold the alleged Christchurch gunman four category A firearms and ammunition, after police verified the online mail-order process. It is still unknown where the alleged assailant obtained the semi-automatic weapon reportedly used in the attack
Continue reading...At least 50 died after gunman opened fire during Friday prayers at two mosques in Christchurch
Fifty people have been confirmed killed, and 50 injured, in Friday’s terrorist attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. As of Saturday night, 36 people remained in hospital.
New Zealand police have not yet issued any public identification of any victims of attack.
Continue reading...Members of a New Zealand biker gang have performed the haka to honour the victims of the mass shootings in Christchurch. Before doing so, the gang's spokesperson thanked the New Zealand police for their work. Mosques in New Zealand have been inundated with floral tributes and messages of support after the massacre, in which 50 people were killed
Continue reading...Abdul Aziz, 48, is being hailed a hero for preventing more deaths at the Linwood mosque. Aziz says he chased the shooter away from the mosque. He then picked up a gun left by the shooter and threw it into his car as he drove away. The gunman killed 49 people after attacking two mosques in the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s history. Seven people were killed at the Linwood mosque
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