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28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant has been identified as a shooter in the New Zealand mosque attack that left the Christchurch community stunned. Nearly 50 people were shot dead and dozens more injured when Tarrant open-fired on the mosque during a traditional Friday prayer known as Jummah.
Tarrant said the attack was inspired by Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.
The shooter open-fired indiscriminately on the congregation and even shot people at point-blank range. Other victims encountered Tarrant outside of the mosque, where he also decided to take their lives.
To make matters worse, Tarrant live streamed the attack on social media.
Police are warning people on social media about the distressing video which captured 17-minutes of the attack.
“Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the incident in Christchurch circulating online,” New Zealand police said in a Twitter post, via the Times LIVE. “We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed.”
New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the shooting as a terrorist attack and called it “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”
In the manifesto, Tarrant described himself as an “ordinary white man” who was from a “working class, low-income family.”
Here is what we know about the attack.
What Happened?
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Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian man, was a gunman in the horrific New Zealand mosque shootings that took place on Friday, March 15. The mass shootings took place at two separate mosques and left dozens dead. Tarrant said that the attacks were inspired by Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik, according to The Telegraph.
The shooting was carried out during the Jummah Prayer which is a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday.
In the attack — which took place at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, at least 49 people were killed. Part of the attack which took place at Al Noor Mosque was broadcast live.
Where Did The Shooting Take Place?
Google Maps/New York Times
The shootings took place in Christchurch, New Zealand near Cathedral Square and Hagley Park. The shootings were carried out in two locations — Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Mosque — with one suspect arrested in between the two locations.
