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New Zealand shooting: suspect appears in court – latest updates New Zealand shooting: mosque massacre suspect appears in court – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Across the road from the mosque people have begun writing messages of love pic.twitter.com/g2IDZAOSnr
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is expected to speak to the media in the coming hours. She visited the Canterbury Refugee Centre in Christchurch this morning, meeting people along with deputy PM WInston Peters and opposition National party leader Simon Bridges.
Bridges said: “This is not something that has happened to just the Islamic community, just Christchurch. It has happened to all New Zealanders. It is foreign to everything we believe, our values, tolerance and peaceful living, and getting along with one another.”
Terrorist attacks of the nature seen in Christchurch are incredibly rare to New Zealand – this was the worst mass shooting in its history – however that is not the case for other countries.
Lois Beckett, a senior Guardian reporter in the US who specialises in covering the far-right, says Friday’s killings “appear to be the latest in a drumbeat of attacks motivated by the belief that the white race is endangered. The perceived threats include Jews, Muslims, immigrants, refugees, feminists and leftist politicians.”
You can read more here.
A history of recent attacks linked to white supremacy
Some images from reporter Melissa Davey, who is in Christchurch
Every now and then the police tape is lifted and a hearse drives out. Support services are here for when that happens.Every now and then the police tape is lifted and a hearse drives out. Support services are here for when that happens.
New Zealand’s top-tier rugby league club is offering free entry for today’s season-opening match against Australia’s Canterbury Bulldogs as a way for New Zealanders to unite.New Zealand’s top-tier rugby league club is offering free entry for today’s season-opening match against Australia’s Canterbury Bulldogs as a way for New Zealanders to unite.
CEO Cameron George said: “New Zealand is hurting. We are New Zealand’s team in the NRL [National Rugby League] and we want the public to join us this evening to acknowledge collectively those who have been affected by the heinous act in our country.”CEO Cameron George said: “New Zealand is hurting. We are New Zealand’s team in the NRL [National Rugby League] and we want the public to join us this evening to acknowledge collectively those who have been affected by the heinous act in our country.”
You can read more about the match, in Auckland’s Mount Smart stadium, here.You can read more about the match, in Auckland’s Mount Smart stadium, here.
Fuller added that the family of the Australian suspect approached New South Wales police after seeing coverage of the terrorist attack.Fuller added that the family of the Australian suspect approached New South Wales police after seeing coverage of the terrorist attack.
Police in New South Wales have said they will be increasing their public presence after the attacks but emphasised that there were no live threats in terms of terrorism. “It is important that we stand united,” says police commissioner Michael FullerPolice in New South Wales have said they will be increasing their public presence after the attacks but emphasised that there were no live threats in terms of terrorism. “It is important that we stand united,” says police commissioner Michael Fuller
A spokesman for the Imam Council of Sydney has just spoken of the need for unity.A spokesman for the Imam Council of Sydney has just spoken of the need for unity.
“It feels like it’s happened at home,” he says. “The key message is that we are in it all together, we are in the same boat.“It feels like it’s happened at home,” he says. “The key message is that we are in it all together, we are in the same boat.
“The terrorists do this with one objective: to divide and fragment our society and that is precise what we need to guard against.”“The terrorists do this with one objective: to divide and fragment our society and that is precise what we need to guard against.”
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.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.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.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.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.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.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 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.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”.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”.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.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.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.”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.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.