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Christchurch shootings: Attack suspect Brenton Tarrant appears in court | Christchurch shootings: Attack suspect Brenton Tarrant appears in court |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The main suspect in the mosque shootings that killed 49 people in New Zealand on Friday has appeared in court on a single murder charge. | The main suspect in the mosque shootings that killed 49 people in New Zealand on Friday has appeared in court on a single murder charge. |
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, appeared in the dock in a white prison shirt and handcuffs. Further charges are expected to be made against him. | Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, appeared in the dock in a white prison shirt and handcuffs. Further charges are expected to be made against him. |
PM Jacinda Ardern said Mr Tarrant had five guns and a firearms licence, adding: "Our gun laws will change." | PM Jacinda Ardern said Mr Tarrant had five guns and a firearms licence, adding: "Our gun laws will change." |
Two others are in custody. None of those detained had a criminal record. | Two others are in custody. None of those detained had a criminal record. |
Mr Tarrant was remanded in custody without plea and is due appear in court again on 5 April. | Mr Tarrant was remanded in custody without plea and is due appear in court again on 5 April. |
The first victim of Friday's attack has been named by his family as Daoud Nabi, 71, who moved to New Zealand from Afghanistan in the 1980s. | The first victim of Friday's attack has been named by his family as Daoud Nabi, 71, who moved to New Zealand from Afghanistan in the 1980s. |
The identities of the other victims have not yet been released. | |
A total of 48 people were wounded in the shootings. Among those injured are two young boys - aged two and 13. Eleven of those being treated at Christchurch Hospital are in a critical condition in intensive care, chief of surgery Greg Robertson said. | |
Bangladesh, India and Indonesia all say some of their citizens were killed in the shooting and others are unaccounted for. | Bangladesh, India and Indonesia all say some of their citizens were killed in the shooting and others are unaccounted for. |
On Saturday, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel expressed "revulsion" at this "act of terrorism" and voiced solidarity with the victims. | |
"We have welcomed new people into our city. They are our friends, they are our neighbours," she told reporters. "We want to come together to support them." | "We have welcomed new people into our city. They are our friends, they are our neighbours," she told reporters. "We want to come together to support them." |
She added that flags would fly at half-mast on government buildings in the city "until further notice". | She added that flags would fly at half-mast on government buildings in the city "until further notice". |
Security remains tight across Christchurch. All mosques in New Zealand have been closed. | Security remains tight across Christchurch. All mosques in New Zealand have been closed. |
How events unfolded | How events unfolded |
The first report of an attack came from the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch during Friday prayers at 13:40 (00:40 GMT). | The first report of an attack came from the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch during Friday prayers at 13:40 (00:40 GMT). |
A gunman drove to the front door, entered and fired on worshippers for about five minutes. | A gunman drove to the front door, entered and fired on worshippers for about five minutes. |
The gunman, who live-streamed the attack from a head-mounted camera, identified himself as Brenton Tarrant in the footage, which showed him shooting at men, women and children. | The gunman, who live-streamed the attack from a head-mounted camera, identified himself as Brenton Tarrant in the footage, which showed him shooting at men, women and children. |
A survivor told the New Zealand Herald newspaper how he escaped through a window. | A survivor told the New Zealand Herald newspaper how he escaped through a window. |
Moroccan-born Nour Tavis said he was in the front row when the shooting started. | Moroccan-born Nour Tavis said he was in the front row when the shooting started. |
"People were running and all of a sudden you saw them fall," he said. He saw someone smash a window. "I followed… it was the safest place to get out." | "People were running and all of a sudden you saw them fall," he said. He saw someone smash a window. "I followed… it was the safest place to get out." |
The wife of one of his friends was killed, he said. | The wife of one of his friends was killed, he said. |
"When she heard the noise, she wanted to go and make sure her husband was safe," he said. "She got the bullet, her husband got away." | "When she heard the noise, she wanted to go and make sure her husband was safe," he said. "She got the bullet, her husband got away." |
The gunman is then said to have driven about 5km (three miles) to another mosque in the suburb of Linwood where the second shooting occurred. | The gunman is then said to have driven about 5km (three miles) to another mosque in the suburb of Linwood where the second shooting occurred. |
One witness described how one of the worshippers had managed to disarm the man, who ran to a waiting car outside. | One witness described how one of the worshippers had managed to disarm the man, who ran to a waiting car outside. |
It is not clear where the arrests were made. | It is not clear where the arrests were made. |
Police say they recovered firearms from both mosques, and explosive devices were found in a car belonging to one of the suspects. | Police say they recovered firearms from both mosques, and explosive devices were found in a car belonging to one of the suspects. |
According to the latest census figures, Muslims make up about 1.1% of New Zealand's population of 4.25 million. | According to the latest census figures, Muslims make up about 1.1% of New Zealand's population of 4.25 million. |
Numbers rose sharply as New Zealand took in refugees from various war-torn countries since the 1990s. | Numbers rose sharply as New Zealand took in refugees from various war-torn countries since the 1990s. |
The main suspect | The main suspect |
The main suspect had "travelled around the world with sporadic periods of time spent in New Zealand", Prime Minister Ardern told reporters. | The main suspect had "travelled around the world with sporadic periods of time spent in New Zealand", Prime Minister Ardern told reporters. |
"I would not describe him as a long-term resident," she said, without formally identifying him. | "I would not describe him as a long-term resident," she said, without formally identifying him. |
"The offender was in possession of a gun licence. I'm advised that this was acquired in November of 2017," Ms Ardern said. | "The offender was in possession of a gun licence. I'm advised that this was acquired in November of 2017," Ms Ardern said. |
She said New Zealand intelligence services had been stepping up investigations into far-right extremists, but added: "The individual charged with murder had not come to the attention of the intelligence community nor the police for extremism." | She said New Zealand intelligence services had been stepping up investigations into far-right extremists, but added: "The individual charged with murder had not come to the attention of the intelligence community nor the police for extremism." |
In the wake of Saturday's attacks, social media accounts in the name of Brenton Tarrant were used to post a lengthy, racist document in which the author identified the mosques that were later attacked. | In the wake of Saturday's attacks, social media accounts in the name of Brenton Tarrant were used to post a lengthy, racist document in which the author identified the mosques that were later attacked. |
The man says he began planning an attack after visiting Europe in 2017 and being angered by events there. | The man says he began planning an attack after visiting Europe in 2017 and being angered by events there. |
The document is called "The Great Replacement" - a phrase that originated in France and has become a rallying cry for European anti-immigration extremists. | The document is called "The Great Replacement" - a phrase that originated in France and has become a rallying cry for European anti-immigration extremists. |
Global reaction | Global reaction |
"It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," Ms Ardern told reporters. | "It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," Ms Ardern told reporters. |
US President Donald Trump offered his "warmest sympathy and best wishes" to New Zealand. "The US stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!" he wrote. | US President Donald Trump offered his "warmest sympathy and best wishes" to New Zealand. "The US stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!" he wrote. |
UK Prime Minister Theresa May offered her "deepest condolences to the people of New Zealand". | UK Prime Minister Theresa May offered her "deepest condolences to the people of New Zealand". |
The Queen said she was "deeply saddened by the appalling events in Christchurch today. Prince Philip and I send our condolences". | The Queen said she was "deeply saddened by the appalling events in Christchurch today. Prince Philip and I send our condolences". |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she mourned "with New Zealanders for their fellow citizens who were attacked and murdered out of racist hatred while peacefully praying in their mosques". | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she mourned "with New Zealanders for their fellow citizens who were attacked and murdered out of racist hatred while peacefully praying in their mosques". |
And French President Emmanuel Macron called it an "odious attack" and said France stood "against any form of extremism". | And French President Emmanuel Macron called it an "odious attack" and said France stood "against any form of extremism". |
What are New Zealand's gun laws? | What are New Zealand's gun laws? |
The minimum legal age to own a gun in New Zealand is 16, or 18 for military-style semi-automatic weapons. | The minimum legal age to own a gun in New Zealand is 16, or 18 for military-style semi-automatic weapons. |
All gun-owners must have a licence, but most individual weapons do not have to be registered - New Zealand is one of the few countries where this is the case. | All gun-owners must have a licence, but most individual weapons do not have to be registered - New Zealand is one of the few countries where this is the case. |
Applicants for a firearm licence must pass a background check of criminal and medical records, including factors such as mental health and domestic violence. | Applicants for a firearm licence must pass a background check of criminal and medical records, including factors such as mental health and domestic violence. |
Once a licence has been issued, gun-owners can buy as many weapons as they want. | Once a licence has been issued, gun-owners can buy as many weapons as they want. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the attacks? If it is safe to do so please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the attacks? If it is safe to do so please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |