The 28-year-old shooter was motivated to “spark a civil war in the US.”
Two mosques were targeted by a terrorist attack in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, killing 49 and seriously injuring 20. Brenton Tarrant from Grafton, South Wales was arrested and charged with murder. Prior to the terror attack, he published a 74-page manifesto that narrated his intention to “spark a civil war in the US and ‘save’ the white race,” Daily Mail reports. The 28-year-old attacker said he perceived President Trump as a “symbol of renewed white identity.” He was also reported to have said his terrorist plan was influenced by the 2017 Stockholm truck attack.
New Zealand Police confirmed the death toll in the Christchurch mosque shootings has risen to 49 and one person has been charged with murder. https://t.co/m3sQVK0iiR
— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) March 15, 2019
49 Dead After Christchurch, NZ Mosque Shootings[/tweetthis]
The terrorist attack, the worst in the history of New Zealand, was denounced by Trump as a “horrible massacre” on Twitter. Tarrant, the perpetrator of the massacre said in his manifesto, “I chose firearms for the affect it would have on social discourse, the extra media coverage they would provide and the affect it could have on the politics of the United States and thereby the political situation of the world. The US is torn into many factions by its second amendment, along state, social, cultural and most importantly, racial lines. With enough pressure from the left wing within the United States will seek to abolish the second amendment, and the right wing within the US will see this as an attack on their very freedom and liberty.” He also spoke of the “polarization” he wanted to cause.
My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2019
Thoughts & prayers are not enough to respond to the #NewZealandShooting. It is time for concrete action.
The President must disavow white nationalism & this attack.
The FBI must prioritize hate violence.
Tech companies must prevent the streaming/spreading of these videos. pic.twitter.com/HPPkw6kDSF
— Muslim Advocates (@MuslimAdvocates) March 15, 2019
https://youtu.be/cN-Oq1bpvJw
In New York, heavily armed NYPD officers are stationed outside the mosques as a response to the terror attack in New Zealand. They were deployed by the NYPD’s counterterrorism unit. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a radio interview, “We are immediately — the NYPD — is reinforcing Muslim community centers and mosques. So you’ll see a lot of NYPD presence. Of course, folks will be going to pray today. We want them to be supported.”
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, said, “We are deeply saddened by this horrific tragedy. Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones and the entire Muslim community. Targeting of innocent people at the sacred worship places is abhorrent.”
Just heartbreaking.
“I'm 66 and I never thought in my life I would live to see something like this. Not in New Zealand,” says eyewitness who helped an injured man call his wife.#NewZealandShooting#Christchurch
Via @tictoc pic.twitter.com/rcVLB5XfAf— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) March 15, 2019
Don't call him shooter, he is a terrorist.
Terrorism doesn't belong to any religion. Keep this in mind.#Christchurch#NewZealandShooting #NewZealand pic.twitter.com/5FQOTeNRCs— Deepak Kumar (@deepakkapuria10) March 15, 2019
Silence is complicity. Our children are listening. The time to speak out is now.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 15, 2019