New Zealand Terror attacks leave 49 dead
At least 49 people were left dead and dozens more have been seriously wounded during multiple terror attacks today in Christchurch, New Zealand. The attacker used several long guns to target Muslims at two mosques and had what police described as explosive devices. One series of attacks was livestreamed on Facebook for 17 minutes. Three people have been arrested, according to the New Zealand Herald.
One of the terrorists has been identified as a 28-year-old originally from Grafton, Australia who released a manifesto filled with white supremacist hate, references to internet culture, and praise for President Donald Trump as a “symbol of renewed white identity.” Facebook has deleted the terrorist’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the community affected by this horrendous act,” a Facebook executive for Australia and New Zealand, Mia Garlick, told the Guardian.
“New Zealand police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the live-stream commenced and we quickly removed both the shooter’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and the video,” Garlick continued. “We’re also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we’re aware. We will continue working directly with New Zealand police as their response and investigation continues.”
TV news stations in Australia broadcast portions of the shooter’s video, but cut out shortly before the terrorist entered one of the mosques. Police in New Zealand had asked that the video not be shared.
The terrorist manifesto appears to be an attempt to troll the media and was posted to sites like Scribd before being taken down. One of the attackers can be heard saying “remember lads, subscribe to PewDiePie” in the video shortly before one of the shootings, a reference to a popular YouTube personality who has previously received criticism for helping to spread white supremacist rhetoric. PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, tweeted his condolences saying that he was “absolutely sickened” by the attacks.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack against Al Noor mosque in New Zealand and Muslim worshippers,” said Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “May Allah have mercy on the victims and grant a speedy recovery to the wounded.
He added: “On behalf of my country, I offer my condolences to the Islamic world and the people of New Zealand, who have been targeted by this deplorable act – the latest example of rising racism and Islamophobia.”
Imran Khan, who was elected prime minister of Pakistan last summer, said the attacks confirmed what he had always maintained: “that terrorism does not have a religion”.
However, Khan said Muslims worldwide had found themselves targeted and “demonised” since the 9/11 attacks on the US. “I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11 where Islam and 1.3 bn Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror by a Muslim,” he tweeted. “This has been done deliberately to also demonise legitimate Muslim political struggles.”
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