Gunmen Opens Fire at New Zealand's Mosque in Christchurch

Guwahati: A gunman opened fire in New Zealand's mosque on Friday at around 1.40 pm local time killing multiple people. The shooting occurred at two mosques in Central Christchurch in what the country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called it an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.

It has been reported that multiple people were shot at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

According to police in the New Zealand city of Christchurch said that there are multiple fatalities after active shooters opened fire in two mosques in the city center. "One person is in custody but police are unsure if there are any other suspects," said Commissioner of Police Mike Bush.

Bush further informed that as per their information, the shooting occurred at two locations, a mosque at Deans Avenue and another mosque at Linwood Avenue. He said that they are unsure if there are any other locations besides those two areas that are under threat.

The Police Commissioner said that they are dealing with a very serious and tragic series of events in the Christchurch Canterbury area and warned people to stay off the streets. Police also asked people not to go in mosque today who was thinking of going to it and that people should close their doors until they heard from police that they are safe.

Addressing a press conference, the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern described the shooting in two mosques as one of the country's darkest days. "What has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence," Ardern said.

She further said that the attacker has no place in the country adding that, "For now my thoughts and I am quite sure the thoughts of all New Zealanders are with those who have been affected their families.

Police further said that they were in the process of mobilizing every national police resource to respond to the incident. It has also been informed by police that parts of Christchurch were put on lockdown as armed police were deployed after receiving reports of shots fired in the city center at 1.40 pm on Friday, the country's local time.

According to witnesses, the gunmen came from the back side of the mosque and that the gunshots went on for a long time. The witness said, "There were more than 200 people in the mosque when the gunmen entered into it and the gunmen continuously shot for ten to fifteen minutes. We have to jump from the wall to escape and saw lots of broken glasses and bricks on the backside of the mosque."

However, Christchurch City Council tweeted after the incident "It locked down a number of central city buildings including the Civic Offices and Central Library."

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