Page 53 - 31MAR2019E

international

t least 49 people Central city buildings,
were dead in including the Civic Offices
the two mass and Central Library, were
shootings at also locked down. The city
A two mosques council offered a helpline
in the New Zealand city of for parents looking for kids
Christchurch on March 15. attending a mass climate
According to New Zealand change rally nearby. “Please
Police Commissioner Mike do not try and come and
Bush, 20 people were seri- collect your children until
ously injured in the terror police say it is safe for people
attack. to come into the central
Prime Minister Jacinda city,” they said.
Ardern describing the There was no official
shooting as “one of New information on casualties
Zealand’s darkest days”. Mosque shootings kill until the edition went to
Police, meanwhile, arrested the press but a Bangladesh
four people, including one cricket team spokesman
woman. The prime suspect dozens in new zealand said none of the players
of the attack has report- were hurt. “They are safe.
edly claimed responsibil- But they are mentally
ity for the shootings and Four people, including one woman, arrested for shocked. We have asked
said in a manifesto that he the team to stay con-
was a 28-year-old white the incident, reports Tehelka Bureau fined in the hotel,” he was
Australian who came to quoted as saying by Agence
New Zealand only to plan officers were attending a could pull a trigger that France-Presse.
and train for the attack, an number of scenes. “Police quick,” he was quoted as He reportedly said the
international news agency are responding with its full saying. “Then people started attack happened as some
pointed out. capability to manage the running out. Some were of Bangladesh players dis-
At least one gunman who situation, but the risk envi- covered in blood.” Another embarked from a team bus
targeted crowded mosques ronment remains extremely witness told stuff.co.nz he and were about to enter
in the New Zealand city of high,” Bush said Ardern said was praying in the Deans the mosque. He said most
Christchurch killed a num- she was unable to confirm Ave mosque when he heard of the players went to the
ber of people, police said. the number of fatalities, shooting and saw his wife mosque. He said Bangladesh
The mosques were packed saying events were still lying dead on the footpath cricket board is in contact
with worshippers gathering unfolding. “It is clear that outside when he fled. with New Zealand cricket
for Friday afternoon prayers this is one of New Zealand’s Another man said he saw authorities and would take
on March 15, and members darkest days.” children being shot. “There further decisions after
of the Bangladesh cricket “Clearly, what has were bodies all over me,” he consultation.
team were arriving when happened here is an said. An eyewitness told Ra- Mass shootings are rare
the shooter opened fire. extraordinary and unprec- dio New Zealand he heard in New Zealand, which
Local media reported at edented act of violence.” The shots fired and four people tightened its gun laws to
least nine people were dead Masjid al Noor in central were lying on the ground, restrict access to semi-
and the South Island city Christchurch was filled with “blood everywhere”. automatic rifles in 1992,
was placed in lockdown as with worshippers, when the Unconfirmed reports two years after a mentally
police hunted for an “active attack happened, as was a said the shooter was a wear- disturbed man shot dead 13
shooter.” “This is an evolving second mosque in suburban ing military-style clothing. people in the South Island
incident and we are work- Linwood. Commissioner Bush said town of Aramoana. How-
ing to confirm the facts, A Palestinian man in the all schools in the city had ever, anyone over 16 can ap-
however we can confirm mosque, who did not want been placed in lockdown ply for a standard firearms
there have been a num- to give his name, said he in response to “a serious licence after doing a safety
ber of fatalities,” Bush was saw a man shot in the head. ongoing firearms incident”. course, which allows them
quoted as saying. “I heard three quick shots “Police urge anyone in to purchase and use a shot-
He said one person was then after about 10 seconds central Christchurch to stay gun unsupervised.
in custody but there may be it started again it must have off the streets,” he said in a
other offenders and armed been an automatic no one statement. letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 march 2019 53 www.Tehelka.com