New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern on Friday said that shootings at the two mosques in Christchurch could ‘only be described as a terrorist attack.’
“It is clear that this can only be described as a terrorist attack. From what we know, it does appear to have been very well planned. Two explosive devices attached to suspects’ vehicles have now been found and they have been disarmed,” Ardern said in a televised address.
She also said that four individuals had been ‘apprehended’ by police. “One of which has publicly stated that they were Australian-born. These are people, who I would describe as having extremist views. They have absolutely no place in New Zealand and, in fact, no place in the world,” Ardern said.
She added, “While do not have any reasons to believe at this stage that there are any other suspects, we are not assuming that at this stage. The joint intelligence group has been deployed and police are putting all of their resources into the situation.”
Ardern also went on to offer ‘the strongest possible condemnation of the ideology of the people who did this.’ “You may have chosen us, but we are utterly reject and condemn you,” she said.
The terrorist, who caused the carnage at the two mosques in Christchurch, has been identified as Brendon Terrant, an Australian national. (pictured below)
Christchurch Airport took to Facebook to announce that Air New Zealand had cancelled 17 regional flights out of the city, with at least a dozen more arrivals also cancelled.
Though, the authorities have lifted the earlier lockdown in schools, all hospitals in the vicinity have locked their doors and were admitting only clear emergencies.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Australia was grieving with New Zealanders over the ‘extremist, right-wing terrorist attack.’ He said, “As family members with our New Zealand cousins today, we grieve, we are shocked, we are appalled, we are outraged, and we stand here and condemn absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist.”
The Friday’s terrorist attack has left at least 49 Muslim worshippers dead and over two dozens injured.