This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-47578410
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Christchurch shootings: Witnesses 'prayed for end to bullets' | Christchurch shootings: Witnesses 'prayed for end to bullets' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| As information about the deadly mosque shootings in New Zealand continues to emerge, survivors have recounted horrifying details. | As information about the deadly mosque shootings in New Zealand continues to emerge, survivors have recounted horrifying details. |
| The violence began when a gunman, dressed in dark clothing, opened fire in the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch on Friday. A prayer session had been going on inside. | The violence began when a gunman, dressed in dark clothing, opened fire in the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch on Friday. A prayer session had been going on inside. |
| Witnesses said they ran for their lives after hearing gunshots. | Witnesses said they ran for their lives after hearing gunshots. |
| 'Waiting and praying' | 'Waiting and praying' |
| One unnamed survivor who had blood on his clothes told local media that he saw the gunman shoot a man in the chest. | One unnamed survivor who had blood on his clothes told local media that he saw the gunman shoot a man in the chest. |
| The witness estimated that the shooting lasted for 20 minutes and that up to 60 people may have been injured. | The witness estimated that the shooting lasted for 20 minutes and that up to 60 people may have been injured. |
| "I was thinking he must run out of bullets," he told broadcaster TVNZ. | "I was thinking he must run out of bullets," he told broadcaster TVNZ. |
| "What I did was basically waiting and praying, God please, let this guy run out of bullets." | "What I did was basically waiting and praying, God please, let this guy run out of bullets." |
| The gunman reportedly targeted the men's prayer room in the mosque, then moved to the women's room. | The gunman reportedly targeted the men's prayer room in the mosque, then moved to the women's room. |
| The eyewitness said: "He came to this side, he shot this side, he went to another room and went to the ladies' section and shot them. I just heard one of the ladies has died. | The eyewitness said: "He came to this side, he shot this side, he went to another room and went to the ladies' section and shot them. I just heard one of the ladies has died. |
| "My brother was there and I don't know if he's safe or not." | |
| 'Hundreds of bullet shells' | 'Hundreds of bullet shells' |
| Another man, who survived by hiding, said people had broken through windows to escape. | Another man, who survived by hiding, said people had broken through windows to escape. |
| "He started to shoot them. Anyone who he thought was still alive, he continued shooting them," he told Radio New Zealand. | |
| "He didn't want anyone to stay alive." | "He didn't want anyone to stay alive." |
| Survivor Farid Ahmed, who was in a wheelchair, said he was not sure if his wife was still alive. | Survivor Farid Ahmed, who was in a wheelchair, said he was not sure if his wife was still alive. |
| "I saw from the hallway - to the room I was in - a guy was trying to come in that room and he was shot from the back and he was dead there," he told TVNZ. | "I saw from the hallway - to the room I was in - a guy was trying to come in that room and he was shot from the back and he was dead there," he told TVNZ. |
| "I saw on the floor - the bullet shells - so many hundreds." | "I saw on the floor - the bullet shells - so many hundreds." |
| 'Scene of carnage' | 'Scene of carnage' |
| Eyewitness Carl Pomare was driving past the mosque with a co-worker when he saw people "running for their lives". | Eyewitness Carl Pomare was driving past the mosque with a co-worker when he saw people "running for their lives". |
| "The next second there was rapid fire. These people were being knocked down like ten-pins. I saw them being hit from behind and they were falling to the ground," he said. | "The next second there was rapid fire. These people were being knocked down like ten-pins. I saw them being hit from behind and they were falling to the ground," he said. |
| Mr Pomare and his colleague set up a cordon with another car and began helping the victims. | Mr Pomare and his colleague set up a cordon with another car and began helping the victims. |
| "We were in a group of about six people who just happened to be there at the time - all civilians helping these people who were lying on the ground fighting for their lives." | "We were in a group of about six people who just happened to be there at the time - all civilians helping these people who were lying on the ground fighting for their lives." |
| Ambulances were unable to get to the scene until the area was made safe by police, Mr Pomare said. | Ambulances were unable to get to the scene until the area was made safe by police, Mr Pomare said. |
| "We were trying to keep these people alive until the ambulances could get through. | "We were trying to keep these people alive until the ambulances could get through. |
| "People were begging for our help. We made a call to take a father and his daughter who was in a bad way into a car and we managed to get them both out quickly but we don't know if they survived. | "People were begging for our help. We made a call to take a father and his daughter who was in a bad way into a car and we managed to get them both out quickly but we don't know if they survived. |
| "The gentleman my co-worker was helping died in his arms after about 30 minutes. It was a scene of carnage." | "The gentleman my co-worker was helping died in his arms after about 30 minutes. It was a scene of carnage." |
| Linwood shooting | Linwood shooting |
| At the second mosque, Linwood Masjid, survivors told local media they saw a gunman in a black motorcycle helmet open fire on around 100 people praying inside. | At the second mosque, Linwood Masjid, survivors told local media they saw a gunman in a black motorcycle helmet open fire on around 100 people praying inside. |
| The attack occurred shortly after the first attack at the Al Noor mosque. | The attack occurred shortly after the first attack at the Al Noor mosque. |
| Witness Syed Ahmed told stuff.co.nz the man had been "shouting something" during the shooting. | Witness Syed Ahmed told stuff.co.nz the man had been "shouting something" during the shooting. |
| He said he saw at least eight people killed, including two of his friends. | He said he saw at least eight people killed, including two of his friends. |
| City in lockdown | City in lockdown |
| Buildings in the city centre and surrounding suburbs were placed in lockdown. | Buildings in the city centre and surrounding suburbs were placed in lockdown. |
| The manager of a restaurant near the Al Noor mosque and Christchurch Hospital said businesses shut their doors after receiving police warnings. | The manager of a restaurant near the Al Noor mosque and Christchurch Hospital said businesses shut their doors after receiving police warnings. |
| "We heard the sirens going in the background and saw helicopters flying overhead," Alex, from the Pegasus Arms, told the BBC. | "We heard the sirens going in the background and saw helicopters flying overhead," Alex, from the Pegasus Arms, told the BBC. |
| "Then reports came in and I got texts from my friends saying to be on high alert and that there was a shooter around. | "Then reports came in and I got texts from my friends saying to be on high alert and that there was a shooter around. |
| "We're just keeping the TV on. Some people are obviously freaked out by it, but it's generally calm." | "We're just keeping the TV on. Some people are obviously freaked out by it, but it's generally calm." |