New Zealand police hunt 'active shooter' after gunman opens fire at mosque

 

Emergency services personnel transport a stretcher carrying a person at a hospital, after reports that several shots had been fired, in central Christchurch, New Zealand March 15, 2019, in this still image taken from video. TVNZ/via REUTERS TV

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand police were hunting "an active shooter" in the centre of Christchurch city on Friday after a gunman opened fire at a mosque inflicting several casualties.

 

A witness told media that a man dressed in a military-style, camouflage outfit, and carrying an automatic rifle had started randomly shooting people in the mosque.

 

"A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," New ZealandPolice Commissioner Mike Bush said.

 

"Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high."

 

The Bangladesh cricket team was going to Friday prayers at the mosque, the Masjid Al Noor, when the shooting occurred but all members were safe, a team coach told Reuters.

 

Media reported that a gunman opened fire inside mosque in Christchurch's Hagley Park district. There were reports of armed police at a second mosque in the suburb of Linwood.

 

People in centre of the city should stay indoors, police said. All Christchurch schools and council buildings have been placed into lockdown.

 

Police did not immediately comment on whether the incident took place in the mosque or nearby. There is no official confirmation on casualties.

 

Media said shots had been fired near a mosque and a witness told broadcaster One News that he had seen three people lying on the ground, bleeding outside the building.

 

Radio New Zealand quoted a witness inside the mosque saying he heard shots fired and at least four people were lying on the ground and "there was blood everywhere".

 

"Horrified to hear of Christchurch mosque shootings. There is never a justification for that sort of hatred," said Amy Adams, a member of parliament from Christchurch.

 

The Bangladesh cricket team is in Christchurch to play New Zealand in a third cricket test starting on Saturday.

 

"They were on the bus, which was just pulling up to the mosque when the shooting begun,” Mario Villavarayen, strength and conditioning coach of the Bangladesh cricket team, told Reuters in a message.

 

"They are shaken but good.”

 

Muslims account for just over 1 percent of New Zealand's population, a 2013 census showed.

 

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and Praveen Menon; Editing by Robert Birsel and Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-15

Man, this city has seen alot of pain over the few years with the earthquake and now this.

 

As I type this they reckon there is a shooter still active.

Mosques in Christchurch? How the world has changed!

 

In my childhood Christchurch was the Adelaide of NZ - conservative, boring & Anglican churchy.

Dozens dead apparently.

4 in custody. 3 men and a woman. One a 28 year old white male. 

That is pretty gruesome, who said that white terrorists are not a problem. The guy keeps reloading and shooting people. Guys like this do deserve the death penalty. I am against it in general but with evidence like this. 

Edited March 15, 20197 yr by Sheryl
deleted post quote removed

A tragic day for all of New Zealand 

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Full video here, access is slow as the media and police have finally worked out that the guy streamed the killings. The video is 17 minutes long and, obviously, disturbing.

 

I went to that link. What was also alarming were the comments in the 34 page and growing comment thread. People are utterly desensitized. Not acceptable at all to have people's last moments in life put on public display for what amounts to entertainment.

8 minutes ago, zydeco said:

I went to that link. What was also alarming were the comments in the 34 page and growing comment thread. People are utterly desensitized. Not acceptable at all to have people's last moments in life put on public display for what amounts to entertainment.

I don't see this as entertainment, i watched and was utterly disgusted by this guy. Show me clearly that Muslims are not the only threat. There are fanatics on both sides and the more people like this and on the other side attack the more violent it will become. 

 

I was shocked at how the guy could shoot all those people and then shoot them while they were on the floor. That lady asking for help (outside) only to be killed by this guy before he left is his car. This guy deserves the death penalty. The guy has absolutely no conscience and was talking about how good it went and what he did in the clip. Sickening, not entertainment but a good wake up call about how dangerous things can get.

18 minutes ago, zydeco said:

I went to that link. What was also alarming were the comments in the 34 page and growing comment thread. People are utterly desensitized. Not acceptable at all to have people's last moments in life put on public display for what amounts to entertainment.

 

I'm shocked that the shooter filmed it and even more shocked that someone has put it on view for the general public!

 

Muslims all over the world are going to be seeking revenge for this vile atrocity and who can blame them.

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

I don't see this as entertainment, i watched and was utterly disgusted by this guy.

When people have the complete and utter lack of morals and humanity to post a video like that, it amounts to entertainment. Go look at the comments under the video. I didn't watch it. But the comments are about as sickening as anything I've ever seen. What you were watching in that video were the very last conscious moments of individuals being slaughtered. It will now be out there for all the people who enjoy beheading videos, live close ups of executions, and other atrocities. What a sick, sick thing to have inflicted upon the relatives and others.

Disgusting, my best wishes to the victims. 

 

And too the "white killer" ...you werent representing me 

it was live streamed as he was doing it apparently on his FB page

2 minutes ago, yogi100 said:

 

I'm shocked that the shooter filmed it and even more shocked that someone has put it on view for the general public!

 

Muslims all over the world are going to be seeking revenge for this vile atrocity and who can blame them.

I'm guessing that the intent of the shooter was to stir up just such a reaction, then a counter-reaction and so forth. 

1 minute ago, zydeco said:

When people have the complete and utter lack of morals and humanity to post a video like that, it amounts to entertainment. Go look at the comments under the video. I didn't watch it. But the comments are about as sickening as anything I've ever seen. What you were watching in that video were the very last conscious moments of individuals being slaughtered. It will now be out there for all the people who enjoy beheading videos, live close ups of executions, and other atrocities. What a sick, sick thing to have inflicted upon the relatives and others.

I did not really look at the comments, i saw the video and my GF saw it too. Both shocked about how this guy could have done something like that. It is as if the life of others had no meaning to him. 

 

Its hard to understand crazy people like that (on both sides). For me it was a rude awakening on how sick people are. I have never ever watched something like this before. I can't say that i want to see something like this again.

 

Its like he had no feelings at all.. totally cold.. only thing he was proud what he had done.

11 minutes ago, yogi100 said:

 

I'm shocked that the shooter filmed it and even more shocked that someone has put it on view for the general public!

 

Muslims all over the world are going to be seeking revenge for this vile atrocity and who can blame them.

Your shocked? welcome to social media. People no longer find this stuff shocking and have become desensitized and besides nothing wrong with seeing the real world we live in. People can watch and then draw their own conclusions or choose not to watch

1 hour ago, pegman said:

4 in custody. 3 men and a woman. One a 28 year old white male. 

And 2 Black males as well? 

A white New Zealander, not indigenous, carries out an attack against the "invaders" ... oh the irony of that?

5 minutes ago, madmen said:

Your shocked? welcome to social media. People no longer find this stuff shocking and have become desensitized and besides nothing wrong with seeing the real world we live in. People can watch and then draw their own conclusions or choose not to watch

 

Are you for real!

 

You might be shocked if it was your innocent friends and family being murdered in cold blood for no reason and then having their slaughter put on the internet for all to see.

 

I bet you'd be singing a different tune then nor would you be saying 'welcome to social media'

1 minute ago, toenail said:

I have lived in three “Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia( 10 years). I also have close Muslim friends from KSA, Egypt, Libya, and Malaysia. Great people. Most are not fanatics just as most Christians are not white supremacists or fanatical, bias Evangelists. I pity people who have never had the experience to get outside their comfort “bubble” I feel fortunate 

Perhaps you should try living in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc. 

40 people are dead.

... holy s, now they're talking about 40 killed ...!!

31 minutes ago, yogi100 said:

 

I'm shocked that the shooter filmed it and even more shocked that someone has put it on view for the general public!

 

Muslims all over the world are going to be seeking revenge for this vile atrocity and who can blame them.

Much disgust on here about the post from Karls but no comment about this.

 

If the killers say they were seeking revenge for muslim atrocities yogi100 would not blame them apparently.

Inflammatory post also replies and off topic removed

In keeping with other media and the NZ authorities, video link made by the shooters has been removed.

 

The last thing we ought to do is give these deranged people the publicity they seek.

 

in addition it is insensitive towards the families of the victims.

For those that do not know, NZ general police are not armed, but they have specialist armed squads, similar to UK really.

4 people arrested with the leader (at least) being Australian.

Too early to know much else, especially where the weapons came from.

1 minute ago, madmen said:

Thats Brutal. 

The killer is clearly a lunatic. Innocent people with ordinary lives living happily in a country known for its tolerance. Sickening.

Say what you want about the American police (and I do, critcizing them regularly for their heavy handedness), they would have been on scene in less than 2 minutes. Not sure where the NZ police were.

5 minutes ago, rott said:

Much disgust on here about the post from Karls but no comment about this.

 

If the killers say they were seeking revenge for muslim atrocities yogi100 would not blame them apparently.

 

Would you care to indicate where I've said or even insinuated that?

 

The desire for revenge forments in all races and religions, it's an integral part of human nature.

He was obviously well prepared. Started with a shotgun and transited to a semi-auto rifle with what seemed like an extended magazine given the number of rounds he put down before a mag change.

 

Apparently an Aussie right-winger who had posted a manifesto previously - he clearly had an agenda.

 

not something one would expect to see in NZ- asad day for all.