BREAKING: News Reports at Least 27 Dead in Two New Zealand Mosque Shootings

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Thursday, 14 March 2019 21:16

Written by Janet Walker

Christchurch, New Zealand is spending Friday night on lockdown after two gunmen entered two separate Mosques in the city center, opened fire upon those engaged in noontime prayers leaving an unprecedented carnage and an unknown death toll.

The New Zealand Herald has reported at least 27 have been killed. Witnesses and media are reporting five dead in a smaller Mosque and unconfirmed fatalities at the larger Al Noor Mosque where more than 300 had been participating in the services.

Witness have said the gunman, whose identity has not been released although authorities have confirmed he is an Australian,  entered the larger mosque and came upon the worshipers from behind. Many were gunned down without knowing what was happening.

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A neighbor, multiple media have reported, who lived beside the larger Mosque said he saw a man dressed in black enter the building and then shots. He said, the shooting lasted more 10-15 minutes. He also reported to media he saw the man leave the mosque and drop the large weapon in his driveway.

Christchurch police have indicated via twitter, the situation is critical and fluid. All schools are on lock-down and police are urging all to avoid the area.

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The Bangladesh Cricket team, which is visiting the city, according to twitter escaped the Al Noor Mosque when the shooting began. Tamin Iqbal Khan tweeted "the entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers." @tamimofficial28

The Guardian has reported police have confirmed to their reporter a bomb in Strickland Street in Christchurch. "The bomb is located inside a beige Subaru that has crashed on Strickland Street, about three kilometres from the Al Noor Mosque where the shooting took place," The Guardian reported.

This is from the Associated Press:

A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.

Police have not described the scale of the Friday shooting but urged people in central Christchurch to stay indoors.

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Witness Len Peneha says he saw a man dressed in black enter the Masjid Al Noor mosque and then heard dozens of shots, followed by people running from the mosque in terror.

He says he also saw the gunman flee before emergency services arrived
Peneha says he went into the mosque to try and help: "I saw dead people everywhere."

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Again, police have not confirmed casualty numbers, though we have seen footage of several people being wheeled into Christchurch hospital for treatment following the shooting. We will let you know as soon as police or other authorities confirm casualties.

The is a developing story.