New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her office received a “manifesto” from the gunman suspected of killing 50 people in two Christchurch mosques minutes before Friday’s attack.

“I was one of more than 30 recipients of the manifesto that was mailed out nine minutes before the attack took place,” Ardern told reporters on Sunday.

“It did not include a location, it did not include specific details,” she said, adding that it was sent to security services within two minutes of receipt.

A gunman had opened fire on Friday prayers at a mosque in New Zealand killing many worshippers and forcing the city of Christchurch into lockdown as police launched a massive manhunt. New Zealand Police said death toll has increased to 50.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said that the gunman was a citizen of his country. He also called the shooter an “extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist”

Video footage widely circulated on social media, apparently taken by a gunman and posted online live as the attack unfolded, showed him driving to one mosque, entering it and shooting randomly at people inside.

“This is one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had said. “Clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence,” she added.

First Published: Mar 17, 2019 09:33 IST