New Zealand

Christchurch shooting: reports of multiple casualties after shooting at mosque – live updates

Centre of New Zealand city locked down and police investigate explosives in crashed car

LIVE Updated
Police and ambulance staff help a wounded man after the shooting at a Christchurch mosque.
Police and ambulance staff help a wounded man after the shooting at a Christchurch mosque. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

Lisa Martin

Adding to the shock is how rare events like this are in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s last mass shooting was the 1990 Aramoana massacre, in which 13 people were murdered as well as the killer David Gray.

The tragedy unfolded in the small seaside township of Aramoana, near Dunedin. Gray was armed with a scoped semi-automatic rifle and his victims included the first policeman to respond to the emergency - Sergeant Stewart Guthrie.

The incident sparked a lengthy public debate on gun control in NZ at the time.In 2016, a firearms expert warned NZ could be at risk of another Aramoana massacre.

Waikato University professor Alexander Gillespie told a parliamentary inquiry that 95 per cent of guns in NZ are untraceable because a lack of a central register.

“At the moment I have to register my car. I have to register my dog. But my neighbour doesn’t have to register his firearm,” Dr Gillespie said.

Christchurch hospital has activated its emergency protocol.

A witness who was at the mosque during the shooting has spoken to TVNZ and says that the shooting lasted for about 20 minutes and systematically went through the mosque, going from room to room targeting people.

His brother was at the mosque with him and he doesn’t know if he is OK.

What we know so far

  • At 1:40pm a gunman entered the Masjid Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and opened fire
  • There are reports of casualties with local media are reporting some people have died, with witnesses saying they saw “lots of bodies” on the ground, though police have not confirmed the number of those injured or dead.
  • This is an active shooter situation, with police responding to more gunshots fired at other locations across the city.
  • The city remains under lockdown, with central Christchurch evacuated, children who were participating in the climate strikes were evacuated, schools are under lockdown.
  • Police have confirmed to the Guardian that there is a bomb in a car that has crashed on Strickland Street in the city. People are being evacuated from the area.
  • Police are entering properties in Deyell Crescent, they are telling evacuees “you don’t want to know what is happening”.
  • Prime minister Jacinda Ardern cancelled all her afternoon activities and is set to address media at 4pm local time (in about half an hour).

Updated

Australia in NZ (@AusHCNZ)

Any Australian citizens who require consular assistance, or families concerned about the welfare of citizens should contact +6444736411 or +61262613305

March 15, 2019

Eleanor Ainge Roy, our reporter on the ground in Christchurch, says that armed officers are entering Deyell Crescent, south of the Botanic Gardens and Al Noor Mosque, where the shootings took place.

She reports the whole street has been evacuated and the street is being guarded by armed offices.

Police and ambulance staff help a wounded man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.
Police and ambulance staff help a wounded man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

An update from New Zealand police:

New Zealand Police (@nzpolice)

1/2 A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter.Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high.Police recommend that residents across Christchurch remain off...

March 15, 2019
New Zealand Police (@nzpolice)

2/2 ... off the streets and indoors until further notice. Christchurch schools will be locked down until further notice.Police thanks the public for their cooperation and will provide further updates to keep residents informed.

March 15, 2019

More shots fired in Christchurch

More shots have been fired in the last five minutes, according to police sources.

Our reporter, who is with the police in Christchurch, heard as police were ordered over radio to attend another location in Christchurch to attend an active shooter situation.

There is no confirmation of where the second location is or whether there were any injuries.

Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch.
Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

Updated

This is from the Associated Press:

A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.

Police have not described the scale of the Friday shooting but urged people in central Christchurch to stay indoors.

Witness Len Peneha says he saw a man dressed in black enter the Masjid Al Noor mosque and then heard dozens of shots, followed by people running from the mosque in terror.

He says he also saw the gunman flee before emergency services arrived
Peneha says he went into the mosque to try and help: “I saw dead people everywhere.”

Again, police have not confirmed casualty numbers, though we have seen footage of several people being wheeled into Christchurch hospital for treatment following the shooting. We will let you know as soon as police or other authorities confirm casualties.

Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand.
Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

Updated

Several reports have come in saying there were hundreds of people in the mosque when the shooting occurred.

One witness told the ABC news that he fled after the shooting began and was now running through the streets without his shoes, it is typical to remove one’s shoes when entering a mosque for prayers.

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