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New Zealand shooting: suspect appears in court – latest updates New Zealand shooting: suspect appears in court – latest updates
(30 minutes later)
A 28-year-old man, Brenton Tarrant, has appeared in court in Christchurch charged with murder following the attack on two mosques yesterday in which 49 people have died. New Zealand police say more charges are likely to be laid. No application for bail was made and he is due to appear in court again on 5 April.
The city has united in grief, with floral tributes being laid at mosques across the country, including at the botanic gardens close to the sites of both attacks. Religious leaders and charitable organisations have flocked to the area to offer support.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said the nation’s gun laws will change after it emerged the suspect had a firearms licence. She said he began legally stockpiling weapons in 2017 and had two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns.
Two boys, aged two and 13, are among the 36 injured being treated at Christchurch hospital, with 12 operating theatres working through the night. Most of the injured will need multiple operations, said chief of surgery Greg Robertson. Four for the 49 people who were killed died on the way to hospital.
A heightened police presence is visible across the country, including at mosques and public events, and the public have been urged to remain vigilant. Commissioner Mike Bush said: “We are not searching for anyone posing a threat but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.” The main suspect, one of four who were initially arrested, was taken into custody 36 minutes after the first emergency calls came in.
Leaders from around the world, including the Queen as head of state, have offered their condolences to those affected. Donald Trump offered sympathy and comfort during a call to Ardern but has separately said white nationalism is “not really” a growing threat when asked about the issue in light of Friday’s shooting.
The police apprehended the main suspect 36 minutes after they received the first call.
The car the main suspect was in had a device and the army was brought in to render that device safe.
Bush has gone through the four people arrested. He said one person was released quite early - “a member of the public who just wanted to get their kids home, but decided to take a firearm”.
He said there was another couple arrested at a cordon, “and we are currently working through whether or not that person or those persons had any involvement in this incident”.
Police commissioner Mike Bush: “I have no intel about a current imminent threat but I would never assume anything in this situation.
We are not searching for anyone posing a threat but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.
I reach out to the public again to say that if you see something, say something.”
He has praised the work of everyone, from local authorities to St John Ambulance staff and, in particular, imams for their help in dealing with the aftermath.
Police commission Mike Bush is speaking now.Police commission Mike Bush is speaking now.
The chief of surgery at Christchurch, Greg Robertson, has just given an update on the victims being treated there.The chief of surgery at Christchurch, Greg Robertson, has just given an update on the victims being treated there.
He said 12 operating theatres worked through the night, caring for 36 patients, ranging from the very young to elderly.He said 12 operating theatres worked through the night, caring for 36 patients, ranging from the very young to elderly.
Two children, boys aged two and 13, are among those injured, and are in a stable condition.Two children, boys aged two and 13, are among those injured, and are in a stable condition.
Robertson said many will need multiple operationsRobertson said many will need multiple operations
Many will need multiple returns to theatre for surgery.Many will need multiple returns to theatre for surgery.
Penny Wong, the leader of Australia’s opposition Labor party in the Senate and shadow foreign affairs minister, has just issued her condolences, telling the Muslim community: “We understand and we are with you.”Penny Wong, the leader of Australia’s opposition Labor party in the Senate and shadow foreign affairs minister, has just issued her condolences, telling the Muslim community: “We understand and we are with you.”
She said yesterday’s attacked “reminded us again of how important it is that all of us stand against hatred”.She said yesterday’s attacked “reminded us again of how important it is that all of us stand against hatred”.
“To the people of New Zealand, we regard you as family and today your Australian family grieves with you.”“To the people of New Zealand, we regard you as family and today your Australian family grieves with you.”
Flowers have been left outside Christchurch hospital where most of the injured are being cared for. Some family members are sitting in the park opposite hugging one another. There are numerous cordons in place after it was revealed the hospital itself was a target of the terror cell. Armed police are stationed outside the main entrance to the hospital, along with hospital security staff.Flowers have been left outside Christchurch hospital where most of the injured are being cared for. Some family members are sitting in the park opposite hugging one another. There are numerous cordons in place after it was revealed the hospital itself was a target of the terror cell. Armed police are stationed outside the main entrance to the hospital, along with hospital security staff.
At Hagley Park a priest and Salvation Army workers are approaching people including journalists handing out food and water and providing a shoulder to cry on. This is horrifically sad. People are still, silent.At Hagley Park a priest and Salvation Army workers are approaching people including journalists handing out food and water and providing a shoulder to cry on. This is horrifically sad. People are still, silent.
A few hundred metres down the road from where the first mosque was attacked people have been laying flowers, crying and just standing in shock. ‘This is not NZ’, a sign says. Up the road cars have windows blown out. He was still shooting as he fled in a vehicle down this street. pic.twitter.com/iTt2345ijrA few hundred metres down the road from where the first mosque was attacked people have been laying flowers, crying and just standing in shock. ‘This is not NZ’, a sign says. Up the road cars have windows blown out. He was still shooting as he fled in a vehicle down this street. pic.twitter.com/iTt2345ijr
We will be hearing shortly from medical officials at Christchurch hospital. The briefing is scheduled for 1pm local time (midnight GMT).We will be hearing shortly from medical officials at Christchurch hospital. The briefing is scheduled for 1pm local time (midnight GMT).
Tomorrow a mosque open day is being held across the water in the Australian state of Victoria and police have said will increase the security presence around places of worship.Tomorrow a mosque open day is being held across the water in the Australian state of Victoria and police have said will increase the security presence around places of worship.
Twenty-one mosques in Victoria plan to open their doors to the community to mark the beginning of Cultural Diversity Week. It’s the third year the open day has been held, with thousands of visitors attending in previous years.Twenty-one mosques in Victoria plan to open their doors to the community to mark the beginning of Cultural Diversity Week. It’s the third year the open day has been held, with thousands of visitors attending in previous years.
In a statement, Victoria police said they wanted to reassure the Victorian community that the police presence at places of worship and community events, including the Australian Grand Prix, would be increased this weekend.In a statement, Victoria police said they wanted to reassure the Victorian community that the police presence at places of worship and community events, including the Australian Grand Prix, would be increased this weekend.
“The safety of all Victorians is our number one priority and we will take all necessary action to ensure that everyone in our community not only feels safe, but is safe,” a police spokeswoman said. “There is no intelligence at this point in time to suggest there is any threat to the Victorian community.”“The safety of all Victorians is our number one priority and we will take all necessary action to ensure that everyone in our community not only feels safe, but is safe,” a police spokeswoman said. “There is no intelligence at this point in time to suggest there is any threat to the Victorian community.”
The Islamic Council of Victoria said the event would go ahead and would “no doubt be tinged with sadness.”The Islamic Council of Victoria said the event would go ahead and would “no doubt be tinged with sadness.”
“We invite Victorians of all faiths to visit nearby local mosques this Sunday to meet their fellow Australians in a warm and welcoming environment, exactly what is needed at this traumatic time,” the council said.“We invite Victorians of all faiths to visit nearby local mosques this Sunday to meet their fellow Australians in a warm and welcoming environment, exactly what is needed at this traumatic time,” the council said.
Anyone with information about a possible attack or person of interest is urged to make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or ring triple zero.Anyone with information about a possible attack or person of interest is urged to make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or ring triple zero.
Many cordons remain in place in central Christchurch but there is more activity on the streets now. The library and central cafe’s are beginning to fill up as locals digest the full horror of the last 24 hours.Many cordons remain in place in central Christchurch but there is more activity on the streets now. The library and central cafe’s are beginning to fill up as locals digest the full horror of the last 24 hours.
Many people are saying they feel “dazed” and in a surreal state watching as their usually quiet South Island town is transformed into the hub of New Zealand’s deadliest terrorist attack.Many people are saying they feel “dazed” and in a surreal state watching as their usually quiet South Island town is transformed into the hub of New Zealand’s deadliest terrorist attack.
Police officers from other regions of New Zealand have arrived to provide relief for the local force. One officer guarding the cordon at the Al Noor mosque described the experience of putting his full training to use as “a nightmare”.Police officers from other regions of New Zealand have arrived to provide relief for the local force. One officer guarding the cordon at the Al Noor mosque described the experience of putting his full training to use as “a nightmare”.