Extreme right-wing terrorist attack : at Least 49 Dead in attacks on mosques in new Zealand

In the case of a suspected terrorist attack on two mosques in the new Zealand city of Christchurch are at least 49 people were killed. The competent police chief Mike Bush said on Friday in the capital city of Wellington. In addition, through shots in the two houses of worship, several dozen Muslim worshippers were injured. The health authorities, 48 people with gunshot wounds were treated in various hospitals. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was a "terrorist attack".

Bush said it four people had been arrested, with one of them standing, probably with the attack. Another Suspect who was at the end of 20, will is accused of murder. He should already be on this Saturday before a judge. The two remaining Suspects had yet to be resolved, what would you have to do with the incident. They had been in possession of firearms.

The exact sequence of the attack was even after hours of use unclear. For the Pacific state it is one of the worst acts of violence in recent history. Out of fear of further attacks, the police sealed off schools and other public buildings for hours. To the population - particularly Muslims - urged you to stay home: "Under no circumstances should anyone go in the country now to a mosque."

chief investigator, Bush stressed that the police have made in the run-up to the fact, no error. Ardern had previously said the Suspects had confessed to on any list of potentially dangerous people.

police officers outside of a mosque in Christchurch.Photo: Mark Baker/AP/dpa

the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison has confirmed that one of the Suspects is Australian. He spoke of a "right-wing extremist violent terrorists". On the Internet a Video of the fact, derived from the 28-Year-old and circulated. Apparently, he was wearing a helmet camera.

According to eyewitnesses, the attack against 13.45 (1.45 PM CET). An armed man entered a mosque in the city centre, where at the noon hour, more than 300 people for Friday had gathered for prayer, and shot with a rapid fire weapon. According to witnesses, the perpetrator is a white man who was wearing a helmet and a bullet-proof vest. Later fell in another mosque shots.

One of the surviving believers, Mohan, Ibrahim, reported the newspaper "New Zealand Herald" of a "moment of Shock". "Then all the people started running away." Another witness, Ahmad Al-Mahmoud, said: "It's 50 shots were fired, at least, in very quick succession. Can also be hundreds.“ After the fact the police shut down the area around the mosque area.

On a Video, as several armed officers pull a man from a white car that was previously hit, obviously. According to Bush, have been discovered on several cars with explosives.

In new Zealand is only a small minority of the population of the Muslim faith. There is a total of about 50 000 Muslims, many of them immigrants from countries such as Pakistan or Bangladesh. The largest religious group in new Zealand is Christianity. The city of Christchurch has 350 000 inhabitants and is located on the South island of the Pacific state. Mayor Lianne Dalziel said: "All are shocked. I never thought that something like this can happen here.“ (Tsp, dpa)