The Islamist suicide bombings that killed 321 people, and injured many others in Sri Lanka at the weekend, are believed to have been carried out in revenge for last month’s attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Fifty people were shot dead on March 15 at two mosques in the South Island, New Zealand city by an avowed white nationalist. This revelation from the state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene as he spoke to parliament yesterday.
A 28 year old Australian man smirked as he walked into the Christchurch District Court in New Zealand’s South Island this morning, charged with murder after a carefully planned mass shooting at lunchtime prayers at two mosques. The public was banned from the courtroom for the proceedings, but an angry crowd waited outside the court building. Brenton Tarrant was brought to court by armed prison officers into the heavily secured central city courtroom, packed with local and international journalists.
The gunman who Facebook live-streamed himself shooting his way into the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch also posted a political manifesto addressing his reasons for the attack. In his manifesto he described himself as “just a regular White man”.
The death toll from todays massacre at two mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island, is now 49 with 20+ injured, some critically. The gunman in the Christchurch mosque shooting livestreamed the incident for 17 minutes on Facebook. The shooter identified himself as “Brenton Tarrant”, a caucasian, 28 year old Australias, the NZ Herald reported.
At least 40 people have been killed and more than 20 seriously injured after gunmen opened fire in two mosques in Christchurch around lunchtime today. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the incident as a terrorist attack saying the suspects held “extremist views” that have no place in New Zealand. She confirmed that thirty people were killed when gunmen stormed the al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue, Christchurch. Ten more people died at the Linwood mosque on Linwood Avenue, including three who were found outside the building. Both mosques are in Christchurch’s city centre. A total of 48 patients, including young children with gunshot wounds, were admitted to Christchurch hospital for treatment
Forty people have now been confirmed dead with dozens more wounded after two mass shootings at mosques in New Zealand’s south island city of Christchurch. One of the attacks live-streamed on Facebook.
Here is the latest we know about the Friday afternoon attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand on two mosques.