Six Pakistanis confirmed dead in terror attack on New Zealand mosques

Six Pakistanis have been confirmed dead in New Zealand mosque attack.

CHRISTCHURCH (Dunya News / AFP) – Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Zealand Moazzam Shah has confirmed that six Pakistani citizens have been killed in Friday’s terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch.

The deceased have been identified as Sohail Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, Syed Areeb Ahmed, Mehboob Haroon, Naeem Rasheed and his son Talha. The latest information about other three missing Pakistanis will be shared once their identity is confirmed by the local authorities.

The details were also confirmed by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal.

Terrorism in #NewZealand: Mr. Sohail Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, Syed Areeb Ahmed, Mr. Mahboob Haroon, Mr. Naeem Rashid and his son Mr. Talha Naeem have been announced dead by #NewZealand authorities. Other 3 missing are still being identified. #ChristchurchMosqueShooting

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) March 16, 2019

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deepest condolences and sympathies with the families of the victims of this atrocious terrorist attack.

"The Crisis Management Cell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad and the High Commission of Pakistan in Wellington, New Zealand, are working for assistance to the families including visas (if required) and transportation of the dead bodies to Pakistan, at the earliest," the FO stated.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms, the heinous terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that resulted in loss of 50 innocent lives, and critical injury several others.

“At this difficult moment, the people and government of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the people and government of New Zealand, the bereaved families and the affected community. We express our deepest condolences on the loss of precious lives, and pray for quick recovery of the wounded,” the Foreign Office stated.

“Pakistan views this terrorist attack as an assault on the values of freedom of conscience and association common to all mankind. Pakistan earnestly hopes that the government of New Zealand will take immediate action to bring the perpetrators and abettors of this terror attack to justice, and ensure the safety and security of the affected communities.”

SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER 

A right-wing extremist flashed a white power gesture as he faced the first of many murder charges in a New Zealand court Saturday, while a shellshocked community dug graves for 50 mosque-goers he stands accused of slaying.

Australia-born, 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant stood largely impassive in the dock wearing handcuffs and a white prison smock, as the judge read the first of what are expected to be a host of murder charges that could mean he dies in jail.

Flanked by armed police, the former personal fitness trainer gestured an upside-down "okay", a symbol used by white power groups worldwide.

He did not request bail and was taken into custody until his next court appearance which was scheduled for April 5.

Outside the courtroom, Christchurch residents struggled to deal with the aftermath of what is thought to be the worst act of terror against Muslims in the West.

At an old gravesite, excavators were called in to remove the vast amount of earth needed to bury the dead, although police have not yet been able to release the bodies to anxious families.

At the nearby hospital, doctors worked round the clock to treat 39 people for gunshot wounds and other injuries sustained in the attacks.

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

The attack on the Al Noor and Linwood mosques has prompted an outpouring of grief and deep shock in this usually peaceful country, which prides itself on welcoming refugees fleeing violence or persecution.

Throughout the day people laid flowers at a makeshift memorial just beyond the police cordon around the Al Noor mosque, where most of the victims died.

Many were accompanied with handwritten letters laden with sadness and disbelief, from residents of what one local driver called the "city of sorrow".

"I am so sorry that you were not safe here. Our hearts are breaking for your loss," read one of the notes marked with a string of x-kisses.

When the police tape was lifted late Saturday, bystanders spontaneously joined police in moving the stack of bouquets further toward the mosque.

An imam who was leading prayers at the Linwood mosque at the time of the attack said the Muslim community would not be shaken by the massacre.

"We still love this country," said Ibrahim Abdul Halim, vowing that extremists would "never ever touch our confidence".

Across New Zealand, Kiwis responded with interfaith solidarity -- crowdfunding millions of dollars, donating halal food and even offering to accompany local Muslims now scared to walk the streets.

 

‘I am with you’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived in the city and, wearing a black headscarf, met with survivors and victims’ families.

Ardern said the victims came from across the Muslim world, with Turkey, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia among the countries rendering consular assistance.

At least one Saudi citizen and two Jordanians were among the dead, while five Pakistani citizens were missing.

Sahra Ahmed, a New Zealander of Somali origin, said she was touched by the PM’s gesture.

"It means a lot. It is a signal to say -- I am with you," she told AFP.

Police are now trying to piece together answers to the difficult questions of why and how this happened.

They also want to know how it was possible for the perpetrator to remain undetected by the intelligence services despite his extremist views.

Ardern said the shooter was "in possession of a gun licence" obtained in November 2017, and he started legally purchasing two semi-automatic weapons, reportedly AR-15s, two shotguns and a lever-action gun the following month.

Ardern said some of the guns had been modified to make them deadlier.

"I can tell you one thing right now -- our gun laws will change," she said.

The suspect documented his radicalisation and two years of preparations in a lengthy, meandering and conspiracy filled far-right "manifesto".

He live-streamed footage of himself going room-to-room, victim to victim, shooting the wounded from close range as they struggled to crawl away in the main Christchurch mosque.

Thirty-six minutes after the police received the first call, Tarrant was in custody.

Commissioner Mike Bush hailed the "absolute bravery" of both police and members of the public "who put themselves in harm’s way" to apprehend the suspect.

"Their intervention may very likely have saved further lives."

Some of the officers involved in the operation were rural police officers who Ardern said "put New Zealand first".

Two other people remain in custody, although their link to the attack is not clear. One man, 18-year-old Daniel Burrough, has been charged with incitement.

 

‘Horrible massacre’

Revulsion at the attack, and tributes to the victims poured in from around the world, including from Pope Francis and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

US President Donald Trump condemned the "horrible massacre" in which "innocent people have so senselessly died", but denied that the problem of right-wing extremism was widespread.

Australian police said they had visited Tarrant’s childhood home in the town of Grafton, north of Sydney, and spoken to family members as part of their investigation.

The attack has prompted searching questions about whether right-wing extremism has been treated with enough seriousness by Western governments.

Ali Soufan, a former high-ranking FBI counter-terrorism agent, warned the West was "in the midst of a surge of right-wing terrorism that has been metastasising in plain sight while generating only a muted response from domestic counter-terrorism authorities".

Ardern said she "asked our agencies this morning to work swiftly on assessing whether there was any activity on social media or otherwise, that should have triggered a response".

She added these issues would be addressed at a cabinet meeting on Monday.