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Christchurch shootings: First funerals for victims of mosque attacks | Christchurch shootings: First funerals for victims of mosque attacks |
(32 minutes later) | |
The first funerals are taking place for victims of the New Zealand mosque shootings that left 50 people dead. | The first funerals are taking place for victims of the New Zealand mosque shootings that left 50 people dead. |
Volunteers have descended on Christchurch to assist with the burial process and support victims' families. | Volunteers have descended on Christchurch to assist with the burial process and support victims' families. |
Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be buried as soon as possible, but the burials have been delayed by the scale of the identification process. | Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be buried as soon as possible, but the burials have been delayed by the scale of the identification process. |
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-described white supremacist, has been charged with murder. | Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-described white supremacist, has been charged with murder. |
Christchurch city officials issued strict guidance to the media ahead of Wednesday's funerals and requested that the families be left alone. | Christchurch city officials issued strict guidance to the media ahead of Wednesday's funerals and requested that the families be left alone. |
"The body will be brought on site, taken to a private marquee that has been set up as a family area," a council spokeswoman said. | "The body will be brought on site, taken to a private marquee that has been set up as a family area," a council spokeswoman said. |
"After a short time for prayers, family and friends will carry the body to the grave site where it will be laid to rest," she added. | "After a short time for prayers, family and friends will carry the body to the grave site where it will be laid to rest," she added. |
What are the latest developments? | |
Police on Tuesday said the bodies of six victims had now been released to families, 12 bodies had been formally identified and all 50 post-mortem examinations were complete. | Police on Tuesday said the bodies of six victims had now been released to families, 12 bodies had been formally identified and all 50 post-mortem examinations were complete. |
But some families expressed frustration with the delayed identification process. Mohamed Safi, 23, whose father Matiullah Safi died at the Al Noor mosque, complained about the lack of information. | But some families expressed frustration with the delayed identification process. Mohamed Safi, 23, whose father Matiullah Safi died at the Al Noor mosque, complained about the lack of information. |
He told AFP news agency: "They are just saying they are doing their procedures... Why do I not know what you are going through to identify the body?" | He told AFP news agency: "They are just saying they are doing their procedures... Why do I not know what you are going through to identify the body?" |
In a statement on Tuesday, the police said: "[We] are acutely aware of frustrations by families associated with the length of time required for the identification process following Friday's terror attack. | In a statement on Tuesday, the police said: "[We] are acutely aware of frustrations by families associated with the length of time required for the identification process following Friday's terror attack. |
"We are doing all we can to undertake this work as quickly as possible and return the victims to their loved ones." | "We are doing all we can to undertake this work as quickly as possible and return the victims to their loved ones." |
New Zealand's immigration service said it was processing visas for the families of the victims seeking to come from abroad to attend funerals. | New Zealand's immigration service said it was processing visas for the families of the victims seeking to come from abroad to attend funerals. |
The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern has announced that the nation's gun laws will be reformed in the wake of the attack. Details of the plans are expected within days. | The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern has announced that the nation's gun laws will be reformed in the wake of the attack. Details of the plans are expected within days. |
The country's hunting lobby on Tuesday said it backed reforms, calling for a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. | The country's hunting lobby on Tuesday said it backed reforms, calling for a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. |
On Wednesday, Ms Ardern visited Cashmere High School, which lost pupils Sayyad Milne and Hamza Mustafa, and former student Tariq Omar, in the attack. | |
She spoke to students about racism and changes to New Zealand's gun laws, and urged them "never to mention the perpetrator's name... never remember him for what he did". | |
School Principal Mark Wilson said the impact of the attack had been "particularly cruel and tough" for pupils, staff and parents. | |
Why have volunteers travelled to Christchurch? | Why have volunteers travelled to Christchurch? |
The bodies of some of the victims were being washed and prepared in a Muslim ritual process on Tuesday, partly with the help of volunteers flown in from overseas. | The bodies of some of the victims were being washed and prepared in a Muslim ritual process on Tuesday, partly with the help of volunteers flown in from overseas. |
Javed Dadabhai, a volunteer from Auckland, told AFP that the scale of the attack inspired him to help. | Javed Dadabhai, a volunteer from Auckland, told AFP that the scale of the attack inspired him to help. |
"Christchurch is a small community, so... when you see a loss of 50 people, you really need to come down and help in whichever you can," he said. | "Christchurch is a small community, so... when you see a loss of 50 people, you really need to come down and help in whichever you can," he said. |
A number of volunteers have also been visiting a family support centre near the Al Noor Mosque where the attack happened. | A number of volunteers have also been visiting a family support centre near the Al Noor Mosque where the attack happened. |
"This is a hard time but we have to be strong and faithful and believe that we are going to overcome this," volunteer Mohammed Bilal told AFP. | "This is a hard time but we have to be strong and faithful and believe that we are going to overcome this," volunteer Mohammed Bilal told AFP. |
He added: "People come here to help each other and do something good for our society." | He added: "People come here to help each other and do something good for our society." |
What has the prime minister said? | What has the prime minister said? |
Ms Ardern addressed a special meeting in parliament on Tuesday, where she vowed never to say the name of the gunman. | Ms Ardern addressed a special meeting in parliament on Tuesday, where she vowed never to say the name of the gunman. |
"He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety - that is why you will never hear me mention his name," she said in an emotional address. | "He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety - that is why you will never hear me mention his name," she said in an emotional address. |
Ms Ardern assured MPs that the attacker would "face the full force of the law". | Ms Ardern assured MPs that the attacker would "face the full force of the law". |
The prime minister also called on social media platforms to do more to combat terror, after the gunman in Christchurch live-streamed his attack on Facebook. | The prime minister also called on social media platforms to do more to combat terror, after the gunman in Christchurch live-streamed his attack on Facebook. |
Victims of the Christchurch shootings | Victims of the Christchurch shootings |
Fifty people lost their lives in the shootings at new mosques in the city. | Fifty people lost their lives in the shootings at new mosques in the city. |