A horrific terror attack by a white supremacist on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday has left 49 people dead, 48 wounded and 20 in critical condition. Before carrying out his murderous shooting spree, the extremist posted a disturbing 74-page manifesto declaring Muslims to be “invaders”; he then live-streamed his rampage using a GoPro.
On Friday morning, President Trump responded to the horrific shooting. “My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques,” he tweeted. “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!”
Trump’s response comes as other world leaders likewise declare their condolences and solidarity with the shocked and grieving country.
“On behalf of the UK, my deepest condolences to the people of New Zealand after the horrifying terrorist attack in Christchurch,” tweeted British Prime Minister Theresa May. “My thoughts are with all of those affected by this sickening act of violence.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued a series of tweets expressing his sympathies with the families and his condemnation of Islamophobia, which he blamed for the attack.
“Shocked and strongly condemn the Christchurch, New Zealand, terrorist attack on mosques. This reaffirms what we have always maintained: that terrorism does not have a religion. Prayers go to the victims and their families,” Khan tweeted Friday. “I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11 where Islam & 1.3 bn Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror by a Muslim. This has been done deliberately to also demonize legitimate Muslim political struggles.”
The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has declared the shootings a terror attack and called the shootings one of the country’s “darkest days.”
“This is one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” Ardern said Friday. “Clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”
“It is clear that this can only be described as a terrorist attack. From what we know, it does appear to have been well planned,” said Arden. “Two explosive devices attached to suspects’ vehicles have been found and they have been disarmed.”
The shooter, whose name is not here published because of The Daily Wire’s policy on mass killers, is believed to a be a 28-year-old Australian. He livestreamed his murderous campaign on social media, which has left various platforms scrambling to take down the horrific video. He also issued a 74-page manifesto expressing his white supremacist hatred of immigrant “invaders” and belief in “ethnic autonomy.” He also specifically cites other infamous mass shooters as inspiration for his actions and says he hopes to spark a “civil war” by using firearms in the attack.
“Two other armed suspects were being held in custody,” the Associated Press reported early Friday. “Police said they were trying to determine how they might be involved.”
Editor’s Note: Recent studies suggest that “media coverage of mass shootings can have a significant impact on the psyches of potential mass shooters — that such potential mass shooters have a cognitive craving for attention, which they know they will receive for committing atrocities.” For this reason, The Daily Wire no longer publishes names and images of mass shooters as it has become increasingly clear in recent years that “the value of public knowledge regarding specific names and photographs of mass shooters is significantly outweighed by the possibility of encouraging more mass shootings.”