Tag: Christchurch Mosque

9 Indians Missing In NZ After Mosque Attack

By LokMarg Publishing

At least nine Indian nationals are feared missing in New Zealand following the deadly terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch which killed 49 people, unofficial sources said.

Forty-nine people have been reported killed so far and at least 48 others have been wounded in the twin shootings according to  New Zealand police, which said it has taken four persons into custody – three men and one woman.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the terrorist attack stating that hatred and violence have no place in diverse and democratic socieites. In a letter to New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda  Ardern, Modi expressed India’s solidarity with the people of New Zealand at this difficult time.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj condemed  the dastardly terror attack and put out the helpline numbers of the Indian High Commission in New Zealand tagging High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli for Indians requiring assistance. “Any Indian requiring assistance should contact Indian High Commission in New Zealand on 021803899 or 021850033” Swaraj said.

In his Twitter account (unverified) Kohli said, “As per updates received from multiple sources there are 9 missing persons of Indian nationality/ origin. Official confirmation still awaited. Huge crime against humanity. Our prayers with their families.”

Official confirmation about Indian casualties may take a while to come in.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “Our Mission is in touch with local authorities to ascertain more details. It is a sensitive matter and therefore we can’t give confirmed numbers/names till we are absolutely certain.”

“Assistance is being provided to the next of kin of those affected in getting appropriate visa to New Zealand. We will keep you updated as and when we have additional information,” diplomatic sources said.

Meanwhile, one person in Hyderabad Khurshid Jahangir told ANI that his Ahmed Jahangir was injured in the shooting.”My brother was injured and is now recovering in a hospital. He is currently undergoing surgery. We have seen in the video he has been shot in the chest. We’re trying to reach the Embassy,” Khurshid Jahangir told ANI.

49 Dead In New Zealand Mosque Shooting

By LokMarg Publishing

At least 49 people lost their lives and score others were wounded when gunmen opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, confirmed New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Police have taken four people into custody over the gruesome shootings, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirming that at least one attacker is an Australian citizen.

“We were chosen (because) we represent diversity, kindness compassion, a home for those who share our values, refuge for those who need it and those values, I can assure you, will not and cannot be shaken by this attack,” CNN quoted Ardern as saying.

“We utterly condemn and reject you,” she reinforced while referring to the attackers and the crime committed by them.

She announced that none of the four suspects, currently in police custody, figured on security watch lists before Friday’s attacks.

Echoing the police’s statements, Ardern also confirmed that improvised explosive devices, found attached to the gunmen’s cars at the crime scene, were defused by the New Zealand military. She refrained from commenting on whether the perpetrators had planned a suicide attack.

One of the mosques has been identified as the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, where a perpetrator – a white man in his 30’s or 40’s – entered the mosque and started shooting indiscriminately with an automatic weapon. The Muslim community had congregated for their Friday prayers when the gruesome incident took place.

While security has been beefed up outside all mosques across New Zealand, the police have asked all mosques “nationally to shut their doors”, advising people from refraining to visit “these premises until further notice”.

Meanwhile, distraught parents scurried to establish the safety of their children, who had taken to the streets to protest against inaction over climate change. The lockdown of schools across Christchurch has since been lifted.

Bangladeshi players, on the other hand, narrowly escaped the incident at the Al Noor mosque as they were barred from getting off their bus as soon as they arrived to offer prayers. They ran through Hagley Park to the Oval, reports Cricinfo, as the final test between Bangladesh and the Kiwis stands cancelled. The players were visibly distraught and were seen asking passers-by to not go any further.

Authorities are still trying to establish facts as the local community has united against the apparent hate crime. Many of the houses around the area reportedly took in unaccompanied children of the injured as the events unfolded.

One of the perpetrators allegedly livestreamed 17 minutes of the shooting, where he can be seen entering the mosque and shooting at those congregated. He can be seen blocking the hallway so that nobody escapes. He stopped several times to reload, before exiting the mosque through the front door and shooting at the cars passing by, reports The New Zealand Herald. The shooter returned to a stationwagon to get more ammunition, before re-entering the mosque to check for survivors.

“Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the incident in Christchurch circulating online. We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed,” New Zealand Police tweeted. (ANI)