49 people were killed in the attack on the mosques. For the first time in the history of the state, the level of security in its territory has been raised to a high level. They pressed charges against one of the assailants. He'll face trial tomorrow. Another three were detained. All of them supported extremist ideas. The police report that they aren't seeking other suspects. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, Australia, they'll light up the buildings in memory of the victims of the attack. People all over the world express their condolences.
Artyom Krasulin has the latest details.
"Subscribe to PewDiePie". This is the last thing that the 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant said before heading for a mosque in Christchurch. The footage resembling a brutal first-person video game spread all over the world. The criminal was broadcasting the shooting of parishioners on Facebook (запрещена в РФ) for 17 minutes. He didn't hesitate to film himself, all this accompanied by music. He said that he learned to shoot by playing the popular online game Fortnite.
There were a total of 300 people in the mosque. At least 40 people died at the scene. Dozens of injured are in hospitals.
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand: "The police detained four people, one of them is an Australian citizen. Those people supported extremist ideas. There's no doubt that this is a terrorist attack. The attack was well-planned. Two bombs attached to a vehicle of the suspects were found and disarmed".
About half an hour after the Prime Minister's statement, there were reports of two explosions at the train station and at a Mall in Auckland. According to local media, the unknown left two backpacks that were defused by a robot sapper. Security services have increased control in crowded public areas. The country declared a high level of terrorist threat.
Mike Bush, Police Commissioner, Christchurch: "I want to make clear the number of people who were killed. 41 people were killed in the mosque near Hagley Oval. 7 people were killed at Linwood Avenue. One person died in the hospital. Thus, the number of people killed in that terrible attack is 49. I'd also like to add that one man who's over 20 years of age is accused of murder. He's to be tried in the court of Christchurch tomorrow morning. Another three men were detained. We suppose that one of them who was armed may have nothing to do with the incident".
The motives of the shooter and his accomplices weren't officially disclosed. But they're clear indeed. The criminals supported ultra-right views. On the eve, Tarrant published photos of weapons with the names of mythology characters, generals, and politicians on his social networks. He posted a manifesto on one of the forums. The 100-page manifesto contains extremist slogans and statements against immigrants. The terrorist admired Anders Breivik and sympathized with Donald Trump.
"Trump's lies inspired the Pittsburg Synagogue massacre. The New Zealand mosque shooter said he supported Donald Trump "as a symbol of white identity and common purpose". While the dead bodies keep piling up, the Republicans continue to defend him from the authority of law. Vote in 2020 to put an end to hatred".
"Horrific attack on Muslims in New Zealand is a reminder that demagoguery kills. People like Trump who spew hate and fascism should be reproached until he stops. Propagandists shouldn't be given a platform for the coverage of the underestimation or the normalization of the danger".
Christchurch is among the ten most populated areas in New Zealand, with about 380 thousand people living there. The locals can't believe that such a terrible crime occurred in such a calm city. However, the press already has a version that the place wasn't chosen at random. Christchurch stands for the Church of Christ. And in the place of the mosque where the tragedy occurred, there used to be a church indeed.
Artyom Krasulin, Evgeniya Zemtsova for Vesti.
