Christchurch shooting: What we know so far
Dozens are feared dead after shootings at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch during Friday afternoon prayers.
There are now reports up to 50 were killed.
One gunman filmed and live-streamed as he shot dozens of victims in a mosque.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, who posted the sickening video, appears to be one of the shooters.
Nine is reporting that he is from Grafton, NSW.
Four people are in custody, New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush said.
Mr Bush confirmed there were "multiple fatalities" but couldn't say at this point how many. "It is significant," he said.
Three men and one woman are in custody, Mr Bush said.
The attacks
The two mosques were attacked at about 1.40pm local time.
Mr Bush said multiple explosive devices were attached to nearby vehicles as part of the attack.
He said that police were not assuming the situation was limited to Christchurch and were arming officers around the country.
A body was seen lying near Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and a second gunman was seen near Linwood Masjid mosque.
Several car were found with explosives inside and have been disarmed by NZ military.
Gunman live-streamed massacre on internet
Police have asked social media users to not share a video showing one of the mass shootings in graphic detail.
YouTube and Twitter have been active in removing the sickening videos from the web.
Brenton Tarrant posted a 37-page manifesto online before the attack declaring his intentions. In it, he says "it is a terrorist attack."
A man wearing military clothing was arrested outside Papanui High School. This suspect is in custody, but police warned there may be more active shooters.
WARNING: THE VIDEO BELOW HAS BEEN HEAVILY EDITED BUT COULD BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS.
The manifesto
A manifesto surfaced online written by Tarrant states that he had planned the attack for two years and had travelled to Christchurch to train for it before deciding that city would be his target.
Tarrant says his political inspiration comes from US conservative commentator Candace Owens, who is pro-Trump and has criticised the Black Lives Matter movement. He describes himself as a fascist and a supporter of the views of Oswald Mosley, a British politician who became the leader of the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s.
The manifesto says: "[Video game] Fortnite trained me to be a killer."
"Towards a new society we march ever forwards."
In it is speaks of restoring birthrates and the "crisis of mass immigration".
In the manifesto, the alleged gunman describes himself as a 28-year-old Australian-born man.
"Just a ordinary white man, 28 years old. Born in Australia to a working class, low income family.
My parents are of Scottish,Irish and English stock.
I had a regular childhood, without any great issues.
I had little interest in education during my schooling, barely achieving a passing grade.
I did not attend University as I had no great interest in anything offered in the Universities to study.
I worked for a short time before making some money investing in Bitconnect, then used the money from the investment to travel.
More recently I have been working part time as a kebab removalist.
I am just a regular White man, from a regular family.
Who decided to take a stand to ensure a future for my people."
The scene
A witness inside the Al Noor Mosque said crowds of people struggled to get out of the mosque's doors as the gunman attacked. The video shows the shooter walking from room to room in the most and opening fire with an automatic weapon at anyone he sees. The shooter also fires multiple rounds at the wounded lying on the ground.
Worshipper Ahmad Al-Mahmoud said he saw the man “coming through and shooting everyone in the mosque".
Mr Bush urged everyone to avoid all mosques across the country. He told people in Christchurch: “Close your doors until you hear from us again.”
PM Ardern responds
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was “One of New Zealand’s darkest days” and described the attacks as “an unprecedented act of violence”.
She said police were "actively managing the situation".
The city has been placed in lock-down, with schools and public buildings closed.
Nearby climate change protests were evacuated and council staff have been looking after children separated from their relatives in the chaos.
Bangladeshi team fled attack
The Bangladesh cricket team escaped the mass shooting inside the mosque on Friday afternoon, with reporters from Stuff.co.nz witnessing seven or eight "very shaken" members of the touring side getting off the team bus and moving into their hotel.
Bangladesh opening batsman Tamin Iqbal Khan tweeted that the side had narrowly escaped.