Courtesy of ZeroHedge. View original post here.
Update3: Now there are reports of three shooters, with one in custody.
BREAKING: New Zealand Police reporting the possibility of three active shooters in the Christchurch mosque attacks
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 15, 2019
New Zealand police have asked all mosques in the country to “shut their doors” until further notice, per BNO News.
According to a manifesto posted to social media before the shooting, he wanted to lead the Untied States to civil war by escalating political and cultural tensions.
The shooters manifesto says at one point that this incident is meant to lead the United States to civil war by escalating political and cultural tensions pic.twitter.com/3XbNSFsVEn
— Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) March 15, 2019
Update2: Radio NZ has confirmed two shootings, one at the Masjid Al Noor Mosque next to Hagley Park, and at the Linwood Masjid Mosque in the suburb of Linwood.
Update: According to AP, there has been a shooting at a second Christchurch mosque. No details were immediately available.
***
A gunman wielding an automatic rifle opened fire on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, approximately ten minutes after approximately 300 people began afternoon prayers.
Another eyewitness who declined to give his name said there were “bodies all over me,” adding that the gunman emptied at least two magazines into the crowd.
The shooter was described as ”white skinned, blonde, quite short and wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest.” according to witness Ahmad Al-Mahmoud, 37, who broke a window in a door to escape from the mosque.
According to journalist Nick Monroe, the shooter – Twitter user “Brenton Tarrant” who joined in February posted his intention to shoot up the mosque on social media, then livestreamed the shooting.
THIS IS THE NEW ZEALAND SHOOTER’S TWITTER, https://t.co/AkFOPY2R7B https://t.co/VMffvtMcdQ
TWO DAYS BEFORE POSTING ON 8CHAN THEY POSTED THEIR WEAPONRY ON TWITTER
YOU CAN’T BAN 8CHAN FOR THIS
WITHOUT BANNING TWITTER pic.twitter.com/O5GzXEKolj— Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) March 15, 2019
GRAPHIC:
(oh god. people are asking to see the New Zealand shooting videos, still.)
(this is GRAPHIC CONTENT, DO NOT CLICK IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO SEE THIS.)
????WARNING: PEOPLE GET SHOT AND DIE IN THESE VIDEOS.????https://t.co/8wIpGwSdk3https://t.co/uVxobPxmyd pic.twitter.com/QH1O4d7RQP— Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) March 15, 2019
” I think they got him” it says on 8chan pic.twitter.com/sVrleNr9bd
— Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) March 15, 2019
More from the shooters manifesto
Mentions Candace Owens by name pic.twitter.com/GY3hmpxzXr— Nick Monroe (@nickmon1112) March 15, 2019
The gunman posted photos of his shooting gear on Twitter prior to the shooting.
Approximately 20 armed police are clearing buildings nearby, while all schools in the area have been placed into lockdown. No students will be released until the police “have advised us that the lockdown is over and it is safe to do so.”
In response to a serious ongoing incident we’re locking down number of central city buildings, including the Civic Offices and Central Library. https://t.co/tph8HFddm3
— ChCh City Council (@ChristchurchCC) March 15, 2019
The Christchurch hospital emergency ward has been cleared out and hospital staff are expecting 40 – 50 injured people.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
Of note, gun ownership in New Zealand is categorized as “restrictive” – as civilians are not allowed to possess handguns, military-style semi-automatic weapons or fully automatic weapons without a permit and a relevant firearm license endorsement.
Developing…