49 dead in 'terror attack' in New Zealand, the gunman identified

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49 dead in 'terror attack' in New Zealand, the gunman identified
49 dead in 'terror attack' in New Zealand, the gunman identified

Auckland : At least 49 people were killed in attacks on two Christchurch mosques on Friday. One gunman has been identified as an Australian extremist; he apparently livestreaming the assault that triggered the lockdown of the New Zealand city.

Going by the witnesses statements, the people were being shot from a very close range; women and children are also believed to be among those killed.

"It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying it marked "one of New Zealand's darkest days".

"From what we know, it does appear to have been well planned," she said, adding that in addition to the dead another 20 people were seriously injured.

The gunman at one mosque was an Australian-born citizen, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in Sydney, describing him as "an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist".

It is still not clear that how many attackers have executed the attack, but the cops have taken three suspects into the custody.

Two IEDs were also recovered and diffused by the military.

A Palestinian man who was in one of the mosques said he saw someone being shot in the head.

"I heard three quick shots, then after about 10 seconds it started again. It must have been an automatic -- no one could pull a trigger that quick," the man, who did not wish to be named, told AFP.

"Then people started running out. Some were covered in blood," he said, adding that he joined the fleeing crowd and managed to escape.