World leaders, politicians and journalists reacted with shock and unbelief and grief at the mass the killing of 49 Muslims at 2 New Zealand mosques on Friday. Forty-two others were injured, including two critically, in what became “one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” according to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Reports said at least one gunman carried out the attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday.
The gunman posted on online a “manifesto” stating white supremacist viewpoints and naming prominent Donald Trump supporter and right-wing American media personality Candace Owens as the person who most inspired him to commit acts of violence.
He also praised Trump himself “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.” But he disavows Trump as “a policy maker and leader.”
The attack began at approximately 1:40 p.m. New Zealand Daylight Time at Masjid Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch, or about 2.40 a.m Nigerian time on Friday.
The shooter live-streamed the horrifying attack using a body camera as he calmly walked through the mosque firing over 100 rounds, shooting worshippers there in seemingly indiscriminate fashion, according to an account by The New Zealand Herald newspaper.
But the paper also reported that the alleged shooter published a lengthy manifesto online, in which he “outlined who he was and why he carried out the massacre at the Christchurch mosque.” The complete, 73-page manifesto is posted on the document-sharing site Document Cloud.
In the document, the alleged shooter, who identifies himself as a native Australian named Brenton Tarrant, expresses the common white supremacist belief that white people are being subject to “white genocide” and “replaced” by “non-Europeans” due to “mass immigration and the higher fertility rates of the immigrants.”
He documented his trip from his car and into the worship center in central Christchurch, where he opened fire indiscriminately, police said.
Witnesses said the attack occurred just before 1:40 p.m. local time as the Sheikh gave a sermon in Christchurch.
“He just came in and he was shooting ad hoc,” Ramzan Ali told The Associated Press. Ali said he survived by hiding beneath a bench.
“I haven’t seen him because I just lied down under the bench, thinking that if I get out, I’ll get shot,” he said. “I’m just keeping my fingers crossed so I could be alive.”
He added: “I was the last guy to come out of the mosque after the shooting stopped and on the doors there were a lot of bodies.”
Officials said they were working to remove “extremely distressing footage” taken at the scene and urged social media users not to share it.
Three people are in custody, including one Australian citizen. One 28-year-old man was charged with murder and appeared in court Saturday, officials said.
Authorities also said that the murder suspect will be facing more charges.
“While the man is currently facing only one charge, further charges will be laid,” New Zealand police officials tweeted from the department’s verified account.
Five guns were used by the main suspect, including two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns, the prime minister said at a news conference Saturday. The suspect had a gun license, she added.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said that the island nation is “dedicating all available resources to our response, not only in Christchurch but right across the country.”
Reactions
Owens, the lady named by the shooter, responded to the mention of her name in the suspected shooter’s manifesto, appearing to laugh at the assertion that she inspired the gunman, and blaming “racist leftists.” Owens is African-American and claims to lead a movement she calls “Blexit,” meaning an “exit” of black Americans from support of the Democratic Party, according to Fox News.
“I’ve never created any content espousing my views on the 2nd Amendment or Islam,” Owens claimed In another Twitter post. But other Twitter users quickly uncovered previous anti-Muslim posts by Owens.
New Zealand PM Expresses Grief
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the shooting as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” and added that the attack had been “well planned.”
Ardern said New Zealand was targeted because it is an example of multiculturalism, diversity and acceptance.
“We New Zealanders were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone this racism, or because we are an enclave of extremism, we were chosen for the very fact that we are none of these things,” she said.
“I want to send a message to those directly affected…For many this may have not been the place they were born. For many New Zealand was their choice, a place they actively came to and committed themselves to…it was a place where many came to for their safety. A place where it was safe to practice their culture and religion,” she added.
“You may have chosen us [to attack] but we utterly reject and condemn you.”
According to her, “While the nation grapples with a form of grief and anger that we have not experienced before, we are seeking answers.”
She vowed that “while work is being done as to the chain of events that led to both the holding of this gun license and the possession of these weapons, I can tell you one thing right now: Our gun laws will change.”
“This attack has been an enormous shock for all New Zealanders, and I am aware that there is a real sense of fear and concern for personal safety, particularly among our Muslim communities,” New Zealand police commissioner Bush said in a statement.
He said that there is a heightened police presence nationwide, particularly at mosques and community events, and urged residents to immediately report anything suspicious to local authorities.
“It’s something that we never expected to have happen here,” Christchurch MP Gerry Brownlee told “Good Morning America.” “We’re a relatively small population, and while we are ethnically quite diverse, we live very peaceable lives. And this, as many have seen, has shattered our innocence.”
Brownlee, who said he lives a short distance from one of the shooting sites, said, “Almost everyone will know someone or have a connection with the families of someone who has been either killed or seriously wounded today.”
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel believes the city was targeted because “we are a safe city and a safe country.”
Dalziel said Saturday the attacker is not from New Zealand. “He came here. He came here with hate in his heart and intention to kill in his mind. So he did not develop his hatred here. He came here to perform this act of terrorism.”
“His was the voice of hate, and the only way that communities can respond to the voice of hate is to come together and love, compassion and kindness,” she said.
Queen Elizabeth Saddened
Queen Elizabeth said in a statement that she’s “deeply saddened by the appalling events in Christchurch.”
“Prince Philip and I send our condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives. I also pay tribute to the emergency services and volunteers who are providing support to those who have been injured,” she said. “At this tragic time, my thoughts and prayers are with all New Zealanders.”
Trump Said Shooting Monstrous
Friday afternoon President Trump has described the shooting as “monstrous terrorist attacks.”
