2 mass shootings reported at mosques; many killed
2 mass shootings reported at mosques in New Zealand; many killed, witness says
by The Associated Press, Updated: 9 minutes ago
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MARK BAKER / AP
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. A second shooting was reported at another Christchuch mosque shortly afterward.
Police did not describe the scale of the Friday shootings but urged people in central Christchurch to stay indoors.
“A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter,” Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement.
“The risk environment remains extremely high.
Police recommend that residents across Christchurch remain off the streets and indoors until further notice.”
Armed police were deployed after the first shooting, about 1:40 p.m. local time on Friday. All Christchurch schools were placed in lockdown.
Television New Zealand showed pictures of multiple ambulances arriving at Christchurch Hospital, and said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has canceled all engagements.
Radio New Zealand reported that shots were fired at a mosque near Hagley Park where hundreds of people were praying. It said an eyewitness saw a man wearing a helmet and glasses and a military-style jacket open fire inside the mosque. One person saw four people lying on the ground and said “there was blood everywhere,” RNZ reported.
Witness Len Peneha said he saw a man dressed in black enter the Masjid Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch about 1:45 p.m. and then heard dozens of shots, followed by people running from the mosque in terror.
Peneha, who has lived next door to the mosque for about five years, said the gunman ran out of the mosque, dropped what appeared to be a semiautomatic weapon in Peneha’s driveway, and fled.
Peneha said he went into the mosque to try and help.
“I saw dead people everywhere. There were three in the hallway, at the door leading into the mosque, and people inside the mosque,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable, nutty. I don’t understand how anyone could do this to these people, to anyone. It’s ridiculous.”
He said the gunman was white and was wearing a helmet with some kind of device on top, giving him a military-type appearance.
The New Zealand Herald reported there was a second shooting at the Linwood Masjid Mosque.
Mark Nichols told the Herald that he heard about five gunshots and that a Friday prayer goer returned fire with a rifle or shotgun. Nichols said that he saw two injured people being carried out on stretchers past his automotive shop and that both people appeared to be alive.
New Zealand historically has had only a handful of mass-shooting events.
This article contains information from Bloomberg News.
Posted: March 14, 2019 - 10:23 PM
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