'Bodies were everywhere': Gunman believed to be Australian shoots dead at least nine people in Christchurch mosque and livestreams the horrific slaughter as the city is placed in lockdown
- Witnesses reported hearing 50 shots and police are responding to the incident
- Bangladesh cricket team were inside mosque at the time of the shooting
- Witnesses have said they saw 'blood everywhere' and people seriously injured
- There are reports of another shooting outside Christchurch Hospital
A gunman has opened fire at a mosque in New Zealand, shooting at children and reportedly killing at least nine people.
Witnesses reported hearing 50 shots from his automatic rifle at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on the country's South Island.
The gunman live-streamed the mass shooting inside the Al Noor Mosque, which happened about 1.30pm (11.30am AEDT) as Friday prayers were underway.
A video seen by Daily Mail Australia shows the man firing multiple shots at dozens of people as they try to flee. The gunman is still at large.
People were also reportedly shot at the nearby Linwood Masjid mosque.
There are also reports of another shooting outside Christchurch Hospital and that a bomb was found in a car three kilometres from the mosque.
Police have urged people near the area to stay indoors and report suspicious behaviour, describing the incident as 'critical'.
Witnesses reported hearing 50 shots and police are responding to the incident at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on the country's South Island. Pictured is a still from a live-stream of the shooting
At least one gunman has opened fire at a mosque in New Zealand , shooting at children and reportedly killing dozens of people
Witnesses reported hearing 50 shots and police are responding to the incident at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on the country's South Island
One of the gunmen is believed to have live-streamed the mass shooting inside the Al Noor Mosque, which happened at 1.30pm as Friday prayers were underway
One of the gunmen is believed to be a 28-year-old Australian and posted a 37-page manifesto to Twitter before the killings, describing them as a 'terrorist attack'.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said there were multiple casualties as a result of shootings at two mosques and Christchurch Hospital.
Mohammed Jama, the former president of the Muslim Association of Canterbury, said a man with a gun entered the Christchurch Mosque about 1.40pm local time on Friday.
A man inside the mosque at the time of the shooting said there 'bodies all over me'.
Witnesses inside the mosque reported seeing 15 people being shot, including children.
A man who escaped the mosque during the shooting said he saw his wife lying dead on the footpath.
Share this article
'My wife is dead,' he said while wailing.
Witness Ahmad Al-Mahmoud described one of the shooters as being white, with blond hair and wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest.
The gunman entered and opened fire while hundreds of people were inside the packed mosque for Friday prayers.
The mosque has capacity to hold more than 300 people.
The Bangladesh cricket team - who are currently on tour in New Zealand - were inside the mosque praying at the time of the shooting and were forced to flee for their lives, ESPN reported.
A witness told Radio New Zealand he heard shots fired and saw 'blood everywhere'.
Witnesses inside the mosque reported seeing 15 people being shot, including children
A man who escaped the mosque during the shooting said he saw his wife lying dead on the footpath
Witness Ahmad Al-Mahmoud described one of the shooters as being white, with blond hair and wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest
The mosque has capacity to hold more than 300 people
Mr Jama said four people were injured and that he saw two people lying on the ground. He did not know if they were alive or dead, Stuff reported.
There may have been more than one shooter inside the mosque, the New Zealand Herald reported.
A man inside the mosque said he ran behind the building when he heard gunfire, One News reported.
He said he saw people lying on the ground in pools of blood.
A woman told the Christchurch Star she lay down in her car as four or five men came running towards her before hearing gunfire moments later.
A man was seen with bloodstains on his trousers near the mosque after the shooting
A police officer gestures to a person outside the mosque after the shooting in Christchurch
A shirtless man speaks on the phone as an armed police officer patrols the area outside a mosque in Christchurch
The gunman's rifle and magazines reportedly had the names of other shooters who had killed people at mosques written on them.
A bomb was found in a grey Subaru Legacy three kilometres from the scene of the shooting on Strickland Street, The Guardian reported.
Another witness said people had to smash windows to escape the mosque.
A second gunman was reportedly seen near another mosque in Linwood and an armed police presence is there.
Witnesses reported they heard 20 shots and police are responding to the incident at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on the country's South Island
Police have urged people near the area to stay indoors and report suspicious behaviour, describing the incident as 'critical'
Several people have reportedly been killed, with a dead body seen near Al Noor Mosque (interior pictured)
Twenty armed police officers cleared areas in the suburb of Linwood, and led about five men with their hands on their heads out of a building in the area.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the shooting was a 'serious and evolving situation with an active shooter'.
'Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high,' he said.
'Police recommend that residents across Christchurch remain off the streets and indoors until further notice. Christchurch schools will be locked down until further notice.
The gunman entered and opened fire while hundreds of people were inside the packed mosque for Friday prayers
A man who escaped the mosque during the shooting said he saw his wife lying dead on the footpath
'Police thanks the public for their cooperation and will provide further updates to keep residents informed.'
The shooting happened near Cathedral Square where thousands of children were protesting for climate change action.
The protesting children have been told to go home to ensure their safety.
Police officers were also seen at sports ground Hagley Park and at Christchurch Hospital.
New Zealand Police said armed officers have been deployed in the area.
A business owner near the mosque said a man who fled the area told him the shooting happened inside.
A witness said they heard at least 50 gunshots and saw people lying on the ground.
Another witness said he saw a car chasing two people from outside the mosque along Deans Avenue.
He said the people in the car began shooting at the two people.
Police officers were seen outside Christchurch Hospital after the shooting on Friday
Christchurch Boys' and Girls' high schools have both been placed into lockdown.
Parents of students at Christchurch Girls' High School were sent a text message telling them the lockdown was 'not an exercise'.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her planned events for Friday afternoon in light of the shooting.
The Canterbury District Health Board has activated its mass casualty plan and the city council has placed its central city buildings into lockdown.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will speak to media at 4pm local time.
More to come
- Shooting at Christchurch Mosque | Stuff.co.nz
- Mohammad Isam on Twitter: "Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval.… https://t.co/CcWtAWiJnK"
- Live: Shots fired at mosque in central Christchurch | RNZ News
- Mosque shooting: Shots fired near Hagley Park in Christchurch - NZ Herald
- Christchurch shooting: reports of multiple casualties after shooting at mosque – live updates | World news | The Guardian
