'Hello Brother': Muslim victim's last gesture to New Zealand mosque gunman

In a live stream video of the attack, the man could be overheard saying the last words.

(Web Desk) - A Muslim victim of New Zealand’s worst ever mass shooting appeared to be saying ‘Hello Brother’ to the gunman on his entrance.

In a live stream video of the attack, the man could be overheard saying the last words as the gunman approached the entrance of the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch.

A right-wing extremist who filmed himself on a shooting rampage that left 49 mosque-goers dead flashed a white power gesture as he appeared in a New Zealand court Saturday charged with murder.

Australian-born 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant stood in the dock wearing handcuffs and a white prison smock, as the judge read a single murder charge against him. A raft of further charges are expected.

The former fitness instructor and self-professed fascist occasionally turned to look at media present in court during the brief hearing that the public were excluded from for security reasons.

Flanked by armed police he made an upside-down "okay" signal, a symbol used by white power groups across the globe. He did not request bail and was taken into custody until his next court appearance which is scheduled for April 5.

A short distance from the court, 39 people were being treated in hospital for gunshot wounds and other injuries inflicted in the massacre.

The wounded included a two-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl, who was in critical condition.

Doctors at Christchurch hospital said they worked through the night in 12 operating theatres to treat the survivors.

The attack on the Al Noor and Linwood mosques has been labelled terrorism by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and is thought to be the deadliest attack directed against Muslims in the West in modern times.

Social media hails Muslim man

Social media users hailed and praised the unidentified Muslim man for being courteous to the gunman while being unknown about his future fate.

"Hello, Brother" were the last words of the first #NewZealand victim. As he faced a rifle, his last words were peaceful words of unconditional love. DO NOT tell me that nonviolence is weak or pacifism is cowardice. I have seen the face of God. #HelloBrother#NewZealandShooting

— SharonBohn (@BookishBeachBum) March 15, 2019

“Hello brother “ a word came out of a pure soul filled with a peaceful faith . Hello brother , was said to a killer with a rifle pointed to this greeting . Hello brother he said thinking , that he is talking to a human with soul and feelings . Hello brother , was shot dead.

— alharbi_ahmed (@alharbiahmed10) March 15, 2019

#Hellobrother and the reply was three bullets

— ldj (@Ieendus) March 15, 2019

Aziz Helou, a resident of Melbourne, Australia, wrote on Facebook that "amongst the chaos of today, the evil we both heard and saw", that one incident stood out.

"The first Muslim man to die, his final words were ‘hello brother’. These words were uttered by a man who symbolised Islam. He had a rifle pointed at him by a man with clear intentions to kill and how did he respond? With anger? With aggression? No, with the most gentle and sincere greeting of ‘hello brother’.

"Perhaps this hero was trying to defuse the situation? Maybe Allah used this man to show the world the kindness that is Islam. I don’t know but what I want, is to make certain, is that this detail isn’t lost amongst you. That this mans final act was an Islamic one, a sincere courageous and warm way to stop violence instead of fuelling it".

--- with inputs from AFP.