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LAST UPDATE | 15 Mar 2019
Updated 8.08am
AT LEAST 49 people have been killed in what police described as a “well planned” mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Dozens of people were also injured; there are reports of close to 50 people in hospital with gunshot wounds.
The two mosques which were targeted were filled with worshippers for Friday prayers.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the shootings as a terrorist attack, saying today is “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”.
“This is absolutely tragic, there will be so many people affected,” the country’s police chief Mike Bush told reporters earlier.
One person, a man in his 20s, has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court tomorrow.
Four people in total are now in custody – three men and one woman – and a number of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) have been discovered around the city. The explosive devices were attached to vehicles belonging to the detained suspects. None had detonated and were subsequently made safe by the military.
The attacks took place during lunchtime at mosques on Deans Avenue and Linwood Avenue.
The city went into lockdown with police asking people to stay indoors in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Schools were also shut but that lockdown has now been lifted. However, mosques across the country remain closed and police advised Muslim worshippers to not visit for prayers.
“Clearly, what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence,” Ardern told reporters.
She said many of those who will have been directly affected by the attacks may be migrants or refugees who “have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home”.
For now, my thoughts, and I’m sure the thoughts of all New Zealanders, are with those who have been affected, and also with their families.They are us.
“The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not. They have no place in New Zealand. There is no place in New Zealand for such acts of extreme and unprecedented violence, which it is clear this act was.”
Ardern reiterated police advice for people in Christchurch to stay indoors.
“We are potentially still dealing with an evolving situation. And again, as I say, across multiple sites. Please be assured, though, the police are actively managing the situation. Christchurch Hospital is dedicated to treating those who are arriving at the hospital,” she said.
‘Distressing’ social media footage
Police have also warned people against watching “distressing” social media footage of the attack. It is understood that one of the shootings was streamed live on Facebook.
Ardern said the attackers in custody were not on police watch lists.
The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, however, has said that one of the attackers was a “right-wing terrorist” with Australian citizenship.
“We stand here and condemn, absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist,” an emotional Morrison told a press conference.
“We are not just allies, we are not just partners, we are family,” he said.
With reporting by Órla Ryan
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did ye really have to turn Shane’s win into a dig an Enda Kenny? Shane deserves his own article on the Journal, without any spin in the story.
In before people start b*tching about Enda Kenny
Side note; They’d also b!tch if he DIDNT congratulate Shane Lowry
I was going to throw in a dig, he’s not worth it.
“Enda is a knobhead “- Thomas Mac .
“Shane played great golf over the four days and thoroughly deserved this huge victory “-Thomas Mac
Biffoff Enda…
Click bait from the journal. This story is written solely to generate negative comments about Enda. About as subtle as a bull in a china shop. It’s standard procedure for the Taoiseach to congratulate major international sporting achievers. Anyway to be fair to Enda he is a sports fan, whatever else you think of him.
Comment of the week
Ah here, it’s not even 9am on Monday morning…
Also, like him or loathe him, a decent media outlet would surely refer to him as ‘Kenny’ in the headline. You wouldn’t read ‘David’ congratulates such and such in the UK. He’s still our Taoiseach.
Don’t think much of Enda the parasite…
Well done Shane, U.S. Open next….
It’s gutter journalism stuff and it totally distracts from Shane’s wonderful achievements. It should be about Lowry not Enda.
Shane is an incredible talent,the other man is a dredge on Irish society.Hopefully lots more to come from Lowry.
Surprised he found the time, yesterday as he was on the Tarmac at Knock waiting to great a known Pedophile protector and a man who bullied sexual abide victims and lied to the same victims about his knowledge of their attackers previous abuse!
Yep that’s right Enda roles out the red carpet for Cardinal Timothy Dolan!
Could have sworn you were on about Gerry Adams until the second paragraph
Strange how Enda will grandstand and criticise Gerry or the Catholic Church but then role out the red carpet for this man
You must love carpets, always banging on about them
Wait now the British media will claim him as English. Delighted for u Shane.
stupid comment
It’s not that stupid. As Brenda Fricker said, “When you’re pissed drunk at a train station you’re definitely Irish but when you win an Oscar you’re definitely British”.
Its a long standing tradition of the BBC to do this.
Same applies for Scottish sports people, they are British when they win and Scottish when they lose.
I don’t think it is a deliberate policy but just a deeply ingrained mindset in the British media.
Shane lowry to Enda “its a pity the feeling isnt mutual”.
Haha his congratulations message is so generic! it’s just short of him saying “well done on doing well in that game you play”
The Irish amateurs also had a good week at the International European amateur open in Slovakia with a 2nd and 3rd place finish and 5 in the top 20, a huge achievement that shows that we keep producing great golfers on this island. Half the walker cup team could be Irish at this rate.
http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2015/8/9/second-in-european-again-classy-hurley-edges-ireland-closer-to-famous-five-for-walker-cup
Great win for Shane, I hope he has a good week this week.
Hopefully the people of Mayo have seen enough not to reelect him?
He is such a sad joke like something out a darbey o gill movie. Thats inda i am talking about he would not lace Shane’s shoes .
Great victory
Well done, Shane! It’s the other Lowry that terrifies Enda.
Well done Shane. Enda, PFO!
Does this mean that Shanes family have paid the water tax
Fellow Clara man Brian Cowen will be even more pleased.
shane lowry tells enda we are all not so proud of you efforts
And how much will he tax him when he’ gets home?
Hes like Charlie in Italia 90
Smashing stuff Shane. Pity the spoilers that have nothing else to do but be cynical about your great victory. We are all proud of of you including Enda and maybes even the Sports Dept in RTE.
Has Shane been claimed by the English yet?
have your say