Christchurch: Up to 30 people are feared to be dead in shooting incidents at two mosques at Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday.
Four people are in custody, including three men and one woman. One of them was arrested while wearing a suicide vest. One of the shooters – who identified himself on Twitter as Brenton Tarrant from Grafton, New South Wales – live-streamed the mass shooting inside the Al Noor Mosque while the Friday prayers were underway. One of them also posted an 87-page manifesto to Twitter before the killings, describing them as a ‘terrorist attack’.
The other mosque to be targeted was the Linwood Masjid.
Witnesses reported hearing 50 shots including a semi-automatic shotgun and a rifle.
Reportedly, there was another shooting outside Christchurch Hospital and multiple bombs or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were attached to three cars near the mosque. The Police is attempting to diffuse them.
New Zealand Police have urged people near the area to stay indoors and report any suspicious behaviour, describing the incident as ‘critical’.
Additionally, third Test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand to be held at Hagley Oval which was scheduled to begin tomorrow has been cancelled.
More details are awaited.
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Ms Kalinga