A dreadful event in Christchurch

It is indeed terrible gillybob but I thought an update taken from the Police Commissioner's press conference would be helpful as some posters have – understandably – absorbed some misinformation and then commented on it. That such a thing should have occurred in Christchurch seems unreal. Two good things, related to each other, in this whole awful business are the ways people have reached out to the Muslim communities all across New Zealand and the generous donation of money to fund costs such as funerals and extra care and support for survivors.

One of shooters had flown from Australia to murder these innocents.

Thank you for that update Absentterrible as it reads...The Imam in our mosque has said if this can happen in somewhere like Christchurch NZ, it can happen anywhere.
My thoughts are with all the victims and their friends and family .

The most up-to-date news from a police press conference in Christchurch:

• When they were removing the bodies from the mosques last night a fiftieth victim was found.

• The number of injured people has also been increased to 50.

• 36 people are in hospital in Christchurch and two of them are critical. A child has been to taken to the Starship children's hospital.

• The 28-year-old Australian man has been remanded in custody until a date in April on a charge of murder. Further charges will be made.

• Two people were arrested at a police barrier, one of whom had a gun. They are not thought to have been involved in the planning of the massacre or to have taken part in it but charges will be brought.

• A fourth person is thought to have been planning to help rescue children but, as he brought a gun with him, apparently for self-protection, which is illegal, he is likely to be charged. He is not thought to have been involved in the planning of the massacre or to have taken part in it.

• It seems that all the victims, both inside and outside the mosques, were Muslims.

• The 28-year-old Australian man charged with murder appears to have made adaptations to one or more of the weapons he used.

I think that is just about everything that was discussed, apart from the fact that the police are, of course, doing lots more investigating and family liaison officers and other specialists from the police, as well as experienced volunteer counsellors are providing as much support to the families and survivors as possible.

EV I would go further and arrest and try anyone who promotes antimuslim propaganda online. Or any othe inducement to hate.

What do you think? ?

As this man is Australian, I hope we have the wisdom NOT to blame Australia or any Australians for this outrage.
When Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray - people went out and killed stingrays!! How nonsensical was that?

The Sydney Opera House showed a Silver Fern in solidarity, let that be a symbol of peace to us all.

Yes grannyactivist I too have come across fundamental Christians who have told my Muslim friends God rejects them. This is not so much racism as "blind faith" which will not allow for anything other than their own, narrow views. Fortunately, my friends are endlessly forgiving of such foolishness.
Some of my Christchurch friends, all Muslim, are opening their hearts and homes to any, as a gesture of forgiveness. Brave.

I am so, so sorry that lives have been tragically ended and others changed for ever by the murderous intent of a racist. I have muslim family who came to this country to live their lives in safety and peace and yesterday I needed to be with them.

I also have a daughter in NZ and on my last visit there I found Auckland to be a wonderful mix of ethnicities. The truth is however, that my husband and I did see and hear such horribly racist views when we were there that it has made us reluctant to return. People were not afraid to tell me to my face that in having muslim (foster) sons I was 'betraying' my white heritage. And painful though it will be for some on here to know, those views were forcibly expressed in a couple of instances by churchgoing people. The casual racism we heard was, to us, quite shocking and was particularly marked in and around Nelson on the South Island. To counterbalance that though, we did go to one church, the Church of the Nazarene in New Lynn, that had a wonderfully diverse congregation and showed us that the bigoted views espoused by churchgoers elsewhere were not universal.

Anyone arrested with the gunman should be charged as accessories even if they didn't participate. We have such a law in the UK to those who were in the company of a murderer though didn't take part though knew what was to take place. Their sentences being the same.

Ghastly.

New Zealand has fairly tight gun laws after a massacre there many years ago.
There are many questions to be answered, not least how the authorities had not been alerted to Tarrant.
Why has one of the four been released? Surely being an accomplice to this is an act of terrorism in itself?

After who needs a semi-automatic for any reason.
No-one. Heaven help the world if we go down the route American has.
I presume Tarrant must have obtained the guns in New Zealand or else had a licence to bring them in from Australia?

And I understand that the police in New Zealand are not routinely armed.

Yes, these right wing, anti Muslim are to be condemned. They are recruited and radicalised just as other terrorists are via websites that spread their poison and misinformation.

I do hope the ban on semi-automatic weapons goes through and the gun lobby don’t hijack it. After who needs a semi-automatic for any reason.

BradfordLass72 how awful for you if you know people caught up in these killings.
Nowhere is safe from these types of people sadly.

So sad that any country has to have gun laws.
When it was broadcast that this applied to NZ now it's become a very sad time to a country that has enjoyed living with peace.

So very sad and shocked to hear of another mass killing.I can’t imagine how traumatic it must be for those innocent people whe are caught up in this.

Jacinda Arden New Zealand’s Labour Prime Minister is very popular even in Australia. She is going to toughen up New Zealand’s gun laws.

Australia has lost its way. A bit like here with not a decent politician between them.

Yet NZ has got the youngest leader that's ever been who has thrown herself into her role with gusto, even after giving birth last year. Proof enough that she has a genuine interest in her job and also her people.

Why oh why can't we have her like here ? People like her make such a huge difference to a country. Jacinda is a people leader and I have great admiration for her.

Well said, apricity.

I totally agree Apricity. Jacinda Ardern is a new breed of politicians we can only hope for here. I was also impressed with the Mayor of Christchurch. These two women have my utter respect.

Apologies but wanted to add that he did mention his worry that there may be repercussions around the world. “An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind” seems very relevant.

Shocked and desperately sad for all those effected by this tragic event.

Our local Imam spoke yesterday and when asked if he would be increasing security around his mosque said no he would not. His door is always open to anyone in need of food, drink or shelter. We live in a very peaceful, tolerant and uneventful town and long may it continue. I can’t help but worry that this was probably how the people in the Christchurch mosque felt too.

And I have to add my admiration and deep respect for the NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, as an outdtanding and inspirational national leader. Wise, calm, considered and compassionate she is an exemplar to all countries not least my own. Australia has had the most appalling lot of misbegotten incompetents and vainglorious fools over the last few years all pretending to be leaders. People like Jacinda Ardern inspire me with hope for the future. My heart is with our Kiwi cousins at this terrible time.

Apricity you are right WE ARE ONE and we all need to put our differences aside and learn to love more and hate less
How can one man be so damaged that he hates all people from another culture so much What have they ever done to him There has not even been (that I ve heard of) problems between locals and Muslims or refugees in NZ
NZ has such a small population in a big space and ‘outsiders’ seem to be easily absorbed The dead come from many different countries
Why are we hearing nothing about his accomplices I heard on the news this morning that one may be accused of hate crime with no jail sentence Can that really be true ?

Please let the hatred in the world stop

Everywhere and everyone we need to acknowledge that we are one people with one world to care for. What is so difficult about this? We will all have different views about life and that is OK. But we are ONE.

My heart bleeds for those who have lost loved ones and as an Aussie my heart bleeds for our dear neighbours acosss the Tasman Sea.

Well said BradfordLass72 I hope your family is okay in spite of their grief. I think we are all horrified and deeply distressed. I have simply not met any Muslim families where I live and in my everyday life, except perhaps in passing, chatting over goods in a shop. That does not mean I am not terribly disturbed and disgusted by this horrific event. I am not sure what meetings/invitations may be put in place where I live on the South Island, but will find out and attend if I can. After all, we are all whanau.

I hope its acceptable to add a little to the last post. I want you all to know just how we feel here.

The message is from a local, Maori owned funeral home.

Their sentiments reflect how all New Zealand thinks and feel. I have edited it slightly.

Whanau = family. Whare=home. karakia = prayer

Tena koe Whanau, as with you all we wake this morning with heavy hearts and feelings of disbelief, sorrow and profound sadness.

We cannot process and verbalise the sorrow and heartfelt love we have for our Muslim brothers and sisters at this time. This was their home, they are us.... this is not NZ and we stand with all of the whanau and communities involved.

The helplessness we feel as a whanau this morning is profound and like everyone we want to do what we can to provide some type of support to this awful tragedy.

Tonight at 7.00pm we will be opening all of our chapels on all sites, Whangarei, Auckland and Wellington and invite you all to join us in paying tribute to those who have lost their lives and whanau members.

Let’s all get together and share this time with our love, waiata and solidarity. Kapa haka, bring your waiata, bring the walls down with haka and make our own stand against this evil and show these whanau that they are loved.

We will be reaching out to our Muslim whanau in all 3 areas and inviting them to join us tonight but this invitation will be extended to them for any time that they need somewhere to go for karakia.
Our whare is their whare for as long as it is needed

It will be 6am for you when we meet but the services will continue for several hours. Pray with us if you are so inclined. Nga mihi ki a koutou katoa.