Forty people dead in New Zealand mosque attacks, PM Jacinda Ardern confirms https://t.co/1tVsfneMG6
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 15, 2019
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The Al Nur mosque on Deans Aveneu in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photograph: Google Maps
- Forty people have been shot dead and 20 injured in shootings at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch during Friday afternoon prayers.
- The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, called it a terrorist attack and said it was “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”. It is the worst mass shooting in the country’s history. She condemned the ideology behind the attack, saying: “You may have chosen us but we utterly reject and condemn you.”
- Four suspects – three men and a woman – were taken into custody and multiple explosive devices found attached to cars in the city. One person was later released. Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said one of the suspects in the “rightwing extremist attack” was an Australian-born citizen.
- New Zealand’s threat level has been raised from low to high.
- Police commissioner Mike Bush urged everyone to avoid all mosques across the country. He told residents in Christchurch: “Close your doors until you hear from us again.”
- The city was placed in lockdown, with schools and public buildings closed. Nearby climate change protests were evacuated and council staff looked after children separated from their relatives in the chaos. The school lockdown was later lifted but residents urged to stay indoors.
- The two mosques targeted were the Al Noor mosque, where 30 people died, and the Linwood Islamic Centre, where 10 were killed.
Suggested reading
Four Recent Terrorists from a different religion
The Root Cause of Terrorism: An Unholy Thought
Muslims Are Not Terrorists: A Factual Look at Terrorism and Islam
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Islam!
Two Hundred Verses about Compassionate Living in the Quran
Forty Hadiths or Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad about Compassionate Living
The Al Nur mosque in Christchurch, where 30 worshipers have been killed. Every human life is precious and sacred, killing one is like triggering a genocide. (Al Quran 5:32). The Muslim Times has the best collection of articles for counter terrorism, promoting universal brotherhood and to refute Islamophobia and racism
” We all are from Allah and to Him we all return “. How ironic when people flee the terror in their (old) home country just to be murdered where they thought they were safe.
I absolutely agree, it’s very upsetting to see.
What an upsetting sight to see. New zealend was a pretty safe country and it’s very sad that the people of New Zealend don’t feel that way anymore. It’s always devastating when a person chooses to make this decision and ruin people’s innocent families.
Zealand*
Our heartfelt prayers are with the victims of these attacks and all those who have been affected. May the perpetrators of this evil act be promptly brought to justice.