An anti immigrant terrorist is believed to have been behind the terrorist attack that has left at least 49 dead people and dozens more seriously injured after shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The heartless and senseless killers are said to have live-streamed the attack on Facebook and prepared an anti-immigrant “manifesto” prior to the shooting.
Witnesses described seeing human bodies lay strewn dead and “blood everywhere” following the shootings at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch at about 1.45pm. Police have arrested an Australian citizen and another three people, following a second shooting at another mosque in the Christchurch suburbs.
A search of a property in Dunedin, around 200 miles to the south, was carried out by police.
It remains unclear how many shooters were involved in the attack. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has raised New Zealand’s national security threat level from low to high.
Speaking at a press conference Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the mosque shootings appeared to be a well-planned “terrorist attack”.
“This is, and will be, one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” an ashen-faced Ardern said.
The prime minister also said two explosive devices attached to suspect vehicles were found and were disarmed.
The mosques on target were the Masjid Al Noor in central Christchurch and another one in suburban Linwood.