49 People Killed at New Zealand Mosques Shootings
49 people were killed and about 40 others seriously injured when a suspect opened fire at two mosques at the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday.
Witnesses said a man clad in military-style camouflage clothing and carrying an automatic rifle stormed Al Noor mosque where about 200 people were holding Friday prayers. He then started shooting randomly at worshipers before leaving the scene and going to a second mosque where he shot additional people.
It is the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's history.
New Zealand police say they have taken the suspect into custody. He has been identified as 28-year-old, Australian-born Brenton Tarrant. Three other people, including a woman, have also been taken into custody in connection with the attach.
Authorities say Tarrant posted an 87-page manifesto filled with anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment on Facebook prior to the attack. He also decried the decaying culture of white, European, Western world in the manifesto.
In his manifesto, the suspect also praised US President Donald Trump, whom he said is “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.”
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has described the violence as a terrorist attack, saying the victims were targeted for their Muslim faith and for being immigrants. “This is one of New Zealand’s darkest days.. clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence,” said prime minister Ardern.
“It is clear that this can only be described as a terrorist attack,” the prime minister added.
Donald Trump offered his condolences through Twitter, writing: “"My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The US stands by New Zealand for anything we can do.”
Comments
Dini hizi mbili (kiislamu na…
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Dini hizi mbili (kiislamu na kikristo) zina wahalifu wengi sana. Kwa nini wafuasi wake hawahamii (migrate) mahali dini hizi zilipoanzia na kuishi huko?
Ajabu ni kuwa, wanaopigapiga mdogo wakiwaita wengine wahamiaji wasiofaa kuishi walikohamia (illegal immigrants) wamesahau ya kwamba mababu zao walitoka Yuropa na kuchukua nchi isiyo yao na kuifanya nchi yao huku wakitumia mabavu.
Wahamiaji hawa wa kutoka Yuropa, waliwaua wenye nchi wengi sana kila mahali walipohamia. Ajabu ni kuwa, hawataki mtu mwingine asiye wa asili ya Yuropa kuhamia na kuishi nao.
There is no difference…
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In reply to Dini hizi mbili (kiislamu na… by Imara Daima (not verified)
There is no difference between that man and Al shabab.
They all hijack religion. It’s what these terrorists do.
The people of New Zealand did not deserve that they of horror.
Sorry to the families who r…
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Sorry to the families who r mourning.This terrorists should b hanged immediately so they can die the same way they killed!As my president kenyatta always says no country is safe from terrorism n such idiots!!
This is horrible. This is…
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This is horrible.
This is terror attack and should be put in the category it belongs-terrorism.
A terrorists attack carried out by a white supremacist Christian extremist hate-filled man.
May they Rest In Peace. Terrorism is horrible.
Just because he is anti…
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Just because he is anti muslim doesn't make him a christian extremist! One thing that stands out is that it is a terrorist activity!
Yes it is a terrorist act…
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In reply to Just because he is anti… by Andrew (not verified)
Yes it is a terrorist act caused by hatred of immigrants.I believe education,or should I say the educated are not doing enough to show that we have more incommon as human beings than what differentiates us...
Ndugu @Maxiley: Elimu ya…
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Ndugu @Maxiley: Elimu ya shule haiwezi kuondoa mafundisho ya msingi ambayo yaliwekwa akilini wakati muhimu sana katika maisha ya watoto (formative years). Watu wote waliohusika na mtoto wakati huu kama wazazi, watu wa familia, marafiki, majirani, mafundisho yanayotokana na shule na kanisa, huweka MSINGI ambao siyo rahisi kuubomoa.
Wataalamu wa akili (neuroscientists) wanasema, miaka ya kwanza 14 katika maisha ya mtoto huweka msingi katika siku za usoni hasa kwa upande wa mawasiliano. Ajabu: Binadamu asilimia (%) themanini na tano (85%) ya binadamu ni wafuasi sugu (diehard followers) kutokana na mambo waliyojifunza wakati wa miaka 14 ya kwanza katika maisha yao.
@Ndugu Imara,what I had in…
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In reply to Ndugu @Maxiley: Elimu ya… by Imara Daima (not verified)
@Ndugu Imara,what I had in mind could best illustrated by the following:
Not too long ago black Americans hardly played quarterback position in the American football.Many,at the time especially racist wazungu believed that black did not posses brains to play that position.But people in the know,did not forcefully dispel this notion,and so it persisted. This is what I meant by saying the educated/people in the know should have a concerted effort to fight stereotypes and discrimination...
Iam also mindful that some will not listen or willing to shed their bigotry...but atleast they will have heard the scientific truth that all human beings are the same.
@Maxiley: Asante sana kwa…
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@Maxiley: Asante sana kwa kuchangia juu ya mambo uliyoandika Ndugu. Mimi nadhani ubaguzi wa rangi na jinsia ni ugonjwa wa akili mkubwa sana. Huwezi kumbagua mtu kwa kitu ambacho hakujichagulia.
1. Hakuna mtu aliyeuliza kuzaliwa!
2. Hakuna mtu aliyechagua kuzaliwa mwanamume au mwanamke!
3. Hakuna mtu aliyechagulia rangi ya ngozi yake au hali ya nywele zake!
4. Hakuna mtu aliyechagua rangi ya nywele zake au macho yake!
5. Hakuna mtu aliyechagua kuwa mrefu au mfupi!
Kwa hiyo, ubaguzi wowote unaotokana na maumbile ambayo mtu hakujichagulia, ni ugonjwa wa akili mkubwa sana. Nasikitika kusema ya kwamba ndugu zetu wa asili ya Yuropa ni wagonjwa sana.
Well said Ndugu Imara Daima…
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In reply to @Maxiley: Asante sana kwa… by Imara Daima (not verified)
Well said Ndugu Imara Daima. What comes to mind is children. They are born with a"blank slate" then we the adults put knowledge in that blank slate. Unfornately some adults put"filth" on that slate. As you earlier stated, the formative years are critical to our future development.So if adults inculcate good morals,and manners in those development state most kids will grow up as good adults with practically not racial,or xenophobia...
Thanks Imara and Maxiley for…
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Thanks Imara and Maxiley for your informative healthy discussion about discrimination that’s mostly rife among the the people who descended from Europe. They forget that the countries they now occupy were acquired by force from indigenous people by their ancestors who were worse than the people they like to call illegal immigrants.
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