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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2019 5:24:12 GMT
TVNZ journalist Anna Burns-Francis told CNN at least one of the shooters is believed to be an Australian national.
The journalist said that emergency services from across New Zealand have been sent to Christchurch to assist in the growing emergency situation.
The New Zealand shooter is identified as Aussie Brenton Tarrant.
She said TVNZ has confirmed nine deaths already although there could be many more in the two attacks. Police have not given any official numbers as yet but said it is "significant."
"This is a deeply unsettling, disturbing attack, we've never witnessed anything like this before in New Zealand," she said.
CNN has been unable to verify the nationality of the gunmen or a possible death toll.
Reports also claimed one of the shooters had an IED strapped to his person, but police confirmed he has also been made safe.
"Four [people] are in custody. Three are men and one is a woman, we are working through that as well," NZ police commissioner Mike Bush said.
Local resident Robert Weatherhead told CNN affiliate, NEWSTALK, that he took in people who escaped from the Masjid al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue.
He described the gunman as "white, aged in his 30s or 40s and wearing a uniform," but he had not been able to ascertain what the uniform was.
Benjamin Jellie said he ran outside when he heard gunshots. Oakward Close is the Christchurch neighborhood where the Masjid al Noor mosque is located.
"I saw people jumping over the back fence of the mosque into Oakward Close. I heard at least 20 (gunshots)."
"I heard about eight at the start and then it went quiet for about 30 seconds or a minute and then it started again. I heard about eight more and then there was another minute and another eight."
"Those coming over the fence, all adults and including at least three men, were screaming and crying."
"There have been huge acts of bravery to apprehend these people, but let's not assume that the threat is over. We are as visually equipped as we can be.
This morning's mass shootings took place in central Christchurch, close to where school children taking part in the Global Climate Strike were protesting.
The city council has advised parents to contact their staff who will take their details and check if their child is now in a civic building. They told concerned parents not to "try to come and collect your children until police say it is safe for people to come into the central city."
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Post by Admin on Mar 15, 2019 17:37:07 GMT
The document says the attack had been planned for two years and that although New Zealand was not the original choice for the attack, the Christchurch location was scoped out three months in advance. “I only arrived to New Zealand to live temporarily whilst I planned and trained, but I soon found out that New Zealand was as target rich of an environment as anywhere else in the west,” it says. “I chose firearms for the effect it would have on social discourse, the extra media coverage they would provide and the effect it could have on the politics of the United States and thereby the political situation of the world,” it says. In Grafton, residents struggled to understand the radicalisation of a young man from an unremarkable regional town. Tarrant’s mother, a teacher, was said to be afraid and had changed her name on social media profiles. “I think they’d known he’d gone a bit odd, but does anyone really expect that to happen, ever?” said one woman who did not want to be named. “It’s not the sort of thing you want your town to be known for. This is the sort of place where if you didn’t know him, you’d know someone who did, at least if you’ve lived here long enough. It’s just shocked everyone.” Tarrant’s father died of cancer aged 49 when his son was still at school, according to ABC News. Tarrant is believed to have a sister. At the town’s Clocktower Hotel, people described Tarrant as an unremarkable student who was well-regarded as a personal trainer after leaving Grafton high school in 2009.
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2019 2:20:17 GMT
An Australian man has been charged with murder over the massacre of 49 people at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, appeared in the Christchurch district court on Saturday morning. He is accused of murdering a man, whose name was suppressed by Judge Paul Kellar on grounds of undue hardship to his family. No application for bail was made. Tarrant was remanded in custody without plea to the high court in Christchurch on 5 April. He appeared in court in white prison clothing, handcuffed and barefoot. He did not speak. After Tarrant left the court, the judge said that while “there is one charge of murder brought at the moment, it is reasonable to assume that there will be others”.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2019 17:37:15 GMT
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has said she will announce detailed gun law reforms within days, after an attack on two mosques left 50 people dead.
Ms Ardern said her cabinet had backed gun law changes "in principle".
Police say the killer used military-style assault weapons modified to make them more deadly - which is not illegal under current legislation.
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Post by Admin on Mar 21, 2019 3:47:38 GMT
New Zealand will ban all types of semi-automatic weapons used in the Christchurch attacks, PM Jacinda Ardern has said. The country's gun laws have been in the spotlight since a gunman killed 50 people at two mosques last Friday. Ms Ardern said she expected new legislation to be in place by 11 April. She said an amnesty would be imposed so the owners of affected weapons could hand them in, along with a buy-back scheme. "Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military-style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand," the prime minister said. "Related parts used to convert these guns into MSSAs are also being banned, along with all high-capacity magazines."
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