'It was cold-blooded': Australian woman who watched the horrific video of the Christchurch mosque shooting says she recognised every victim's face - including that of her best friend
- Melbourne resident Rubina Nawabi lost her best friend in Christchurch shooting
- Husna Ahmed was one of the 50 confirmed victims from the Al Noor mosque
- Mrs Nawabi said she plans to travel to Christchurch to help with burials
An Australian woman was forced to watch her best friends and family members die in cold blood while viewing footage of the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Rubina Nawabi lived in Christchurch for 19 years before moving to Melbourne eight years ago. She watched Brenton Tarrant's live-stream video of his alleged murderous rampage at the Al Noor Mosque on Friday.
She saw her best friend Husna Ahmed, 44, allegedly murdered by Tarrant during the sickening killing spree.
Mrs Nawabi said she was able to recognise every single face she saw in the alleged gunman's harrowing video of the horrific attack.
Rubina Nawabi (pictured with her daughters Aamna, 9, and Ayesha, 14) lived in Christchurch for 19 years before moving to Melbourne eight years ago
She saw her best friend Husna Ahmed (pictured) allegedly murdered by Brenton Tarrant during the sickening killing spree
Haji-Daoud Nabi, 71, was a close family friend of the Nawabis. He was one of the first people to die in the shootings
'We know each and every single person, it's devastating. It was very cold-blooded, the way he killed my friend Husna,' she told The Age.
'She was my best, best friend. We had ups and down together. We went through pregnancy together, we had our daughters together. I used to have sleepovers at her house.'
Mrs Ahmed was one of 42 people killed in the shootings at Al Noor Mosque before Tarrant drove to nearby Linwood Mosque and allegedly opened fire. A total of 50 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
The mother helped children and women escape before she returned to Al Noor Mosque to try and find her wheelchair-bound husband, Farid, and was shot.
Husna had screamed at worshippers to follow her outside a side-door as Tarrant allegedly sprayed the lobby with bullets.
After successfully saving everyone she could, she returned for her husband. Once back inside, she was hit from behind and killed instantly.
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Mrs Nawabi described Al Noor as her second home. The mosque was a place of refuge for her during the devastating Christchurch earthquakes.
'Watching the video was so personal... I could see this corridor on the right, this was the kitchen, there was the women's room, there was the sliding door. I could really imagine where you could hide you know,' she said.
Haji-Daoud Nabi, 71, was a close family friend of the Nawabis. He was one of the first people to die in the shootings as he greeted Tarrant at the entrance to Al Noor Mosque.
Mrs Nawabi said she didn't want to watch the video but felt she needed to in order to find out if her sister and brother-and-law had been attacked.
The couple live two streets away from the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Road and attend every Friday.
Mrs Ahmed was killed when she returned to Al Noor Mosque after helping women and children escape. She was trying to find her husband Farid (pictured), who uses a wheelchair
They were lucky to survive as Mrs Nawabi's sister was on the phone and was yet to arrive at the mosque when the shootings began.
Mrs Nawabi said she doesn't blame Australians for the shootings, despite the accused attacker being a citizen and having been born and raised in Grafton, NSW.
She plans to travel to Christchurch to help prepare for burials and support those who survived.
Tarrant has been charged with murder, and did not enter a plea during a brief court appearance on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mr Ahmed said he has forgiven the alleged gunman.
'I was asked ''how do you feel about the person who killed your wife?'' and I said 'I love that person because he is a human, a brother of mine''',' he told the New Zealand Herald.
'Maybe he was hurt, maybe something happened to him in his life… but the bottom line is, he is a brother of mine.'
'I have forgiven him and I am sure if my wife was alive she would have done the same thing.'
Mr Ahmed had already made it outside into the car park where he was hiding behind his vehicle.
He was forced to sit idle as he watched streams of worshippers fall out of smashed windows and frantically jump over a fence - searching anywhere for salvation.
Mr Ahmed even recalled locking eyes with a friend who ran straight passed him.
He said he had since spoken with him and told him he understood his decision to save himself.
After the gunman left, Mr Ahmed wheeled himself back inside and tried to help anyone he could.
