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Christchurch mosque attack: Brenton Tarrant given life term without parole

New Zealand police investigate threat against Christchurch mosque

New Zealand police said on Tuesday they were investigating a threat made this week against one of the Christchurch mosques where 51 Muslim worshippers were killed in a mass shooting a year ago.

Amid plans to mark the one-year anniversary of the March 15 mass killing, police said the threat to Christchurch's Al Noor mosque was posted this week on encrypted messaging app Telegram.

Reports said the message showed a man in a balaclava sitting in a car outside the mosque accompanied by threatening text and a gun emoji.

"We have strong leads that we're following up and I'm confident that we will establish who this person is," Canterbury police commander superintendent John Price told Radio New Zealand, adding, "We're very close".

Al Noor was one of two mosques attacked by a self-avowed white supremacist last year in what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described as "an unprecedented act of terror (that) shattered our small country".

The timing of the latest threat comes at a sensitive time as planning is under way for a memorial service in Christchurch to mark the anniversary of the attack.

Details of the service at the city's Hagley Park have not yet been finalised but Ardern is set to attend after gaining international praise for her compassionate handling of the attacks.

Ardern said Tuesday that she found it hard to believe that New Zealand's Muslim community was still being subjected to such hatred.

"I will be amongst many New Zealanders who will be devastated to see that as we head towards the one-year anniversary of a most horrific terror attack on the Muslim community, that they should then be the target of this kind of activity," she told reporters.

Price said he was encouraged that a member of the public had reported the threat, saying people were acting to stamp out such online activity when they saw it.

"That's the way we'll conquer this issue in our society, is by everyone standing up and saying this is not OK," he said.

Attacker Brenton Tarrant, an Australian national, is due to go on trial on June 2 facing one terrorism charge, 51 counts of murder and 40 of attempted murder over the killings.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...reat-mass-killing-mosque-200303032527786.html
 
Abdullah719 said:
New Zealand police investigate threat against Christchurch mosque

New Zealand police said on Tuesday they were investigating a threat made this week against one of the Christchurch mosques where 51 Muslim worshippers were killed in a mass shooting a year ago.

Amid plans to mark the one-year anniversary of the March 15 mass killing, police said the threat to Christchurch's Al Noor mosque was posted this week on encrypted messaging app Telegram.

Reports said the message showed a man in a balaclava sitting in a car outside the mosque accompanied by threatening text and a gun emoji.

"We have strong leads that we're following up and I'm confident that we will establish who this person is," Canterbury police commander superintendent John Price told Radio New Zealand, adding, "We're very close".

Al Noor was one of two mosques attacked by a self-avowed white supremacist last year in what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described as "an unprecedented act of terror (that) shattered our small country".

The timing of the latest threat comes at a sensitive time as planning is under way for a memorial service in Christchurch to mark the anniversary of the attack.

Details of the service at the city's Hagley Park have not yet been finalised but Ardern is set to attend after gaining international praise for her compassionate handling of the attacks.

Ardern said Tuesday that she found it hard to believe that New Zealand's Muslim community was still being subjected to such hatred.

"I will be amongst many New Zealanders who will be devastated to see that as we head towards the one-year anniversary of a most horrific terror attack on the Muslim community, that they should then be the target of this kind of activity," she told reporters.

Price said he was encouraged that a member of the public had reported the threat, saying people were acting to stamp out such online activity when they saw it.

"That's the way we'll conquer this issue in our society, is by everyone standing up and saying this is not OK," he said.

Attacker Brenton Tarrant, an Australian national, is due to go on trial on June 2 facing one terrorism charge, 51 counts of murder and 40 of attempted murder over the killings.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...reat-mass-killing-mosque-200303032527786.html
Click to expand...

Hope this idiot gets caught.

That mosque needs to increase security. An armed guard perhaps.
 
New Zealand has "fundamentally changed" since the Christchurch mosque attacks one year ago, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said.

Fifty-one people died when a gunman attacked two mosques last March.

Hundreds of people from the mosques attended a joint prayer meeting at the Horncastle Arena in the city to mark the anniversary.

Although the anniversary is on Sunday, it was the mosques' Friday prayers that were targeted last year.

The arena is near the Al Noor mosque, where 43 people were killed. Eight were killed at the Linwood mosque.

A second larger event will be held on Sunday, also at the arena.

At a news conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said "New Zealand and its people have fundamentally changed" since the attacks.

She also acknowledged that "much more" needed to be done to stop radicalisation in the country.

"The challenge for us will be ensuring in our everyday actions, and every opportunity where we see bullying, harassment, racism, discrimination, calling it out as a nation," she said.

"That is when we'll show we each individually have a role to play in making sure that New Zealand has changed fundamentally for the better."

What happened a year ago?
On 15 March, a gunman drove to the Al Noor mosque (Masjid An-Nur) in Christchurch took a gun from his car, then entered the building and began shooting.

After less than 30 seconds, he returned to his car, picked up another weapon, then re-entered the mosque and resumed his attack.

Footage from a headcam he was wearing showed him pass from room to room, killing as he went. The shootings were broadcast on Facebook Live.

The attacker then drove to the Linwood mosque. He shot two people outside, then shot at the windows.

A man from inside the mosque came outside, picked up one of the attacker's shotguns, and chased him away.

Two police officers then chased and arrested the suspect, 21 minutes after the first emergency call from the Al Noor mosque.

In June, the Australian pleaded not guilty to the murder of 51 people, the attempted murder of another 40, and to one terrorism charge.

His trial is due to begin on 2 June.

How have gun laws changed?
Immediately after the attacks, Ms Ardern said the government would bring in laws to make it harder for New Zealanders to access firearms.

In April, less than a month after the shootings, parliament voted by 119 to 1 to change the gun laws.

Military-style semi-automatic weapons were banned, as were parts that could be used to build prohibited firearms.

In June, a buy-back scheme began, where the government would compensate owners of newly-illegal weapons.

Prime Minister Arden told reporters on Friday that, under the scheme, 60,907 prohibited firearms have been removed from circulation.

But one gun owners' group said many more prohibited guns are still in circulation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51850210
 
Christchurch gunman pleads guilty to 51 murders

A man accused of deadly attacks on mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch a year ago has pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder.

Brenton Tarrant, 29, also admitted the attempted murder of another 40 people, and one terrorism charge.

He had previously denied the charges and was due to go on trial in June.

The gun attacks at two mosques sent shockwaves around the world. In the wake of the killings, New Zealand brought in stricter gun laws.

New Zealand is in a state of lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak and the plea was made at a scaled-down court hearing in Christchurch High Court on Thursday.

No members of the public were allowed in to the hearing and Tarrant and his lawyers appeared via video link.

A representative of the two mosques that were attacked was allowed to attend the hearing to represent the victims and their families.

Judge Justice Mander said: "It is regrettable that the Covid-19 restrictions that presently apply do not permit victims and their families to travel to be present in the courtroom when the defendant entered his pleas of guilty."

Sentencing on the 92 charges will take place at a date yet to be set. Tarrant was remanded in custody until 1 May.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52044013
 
Pleading guilty now. What's the game here?

He should pay a heavy price for what he has done.
 
sweep_shot said:
Pleading guilty now. What's the game here?

He should pay a heavy price for what he has done.
Click to expand...



Longest minimum periods of imprisonment. The longest minimum period of imprisonment on a sentence of life imprisonment is 30 years, currently being served by William Dwane Bell. No person in New Zealand has yet been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

So I'm guessing he may be the first one to get life imprisonment without the possibility if parole, and he'll probably get more than 30 years.
 
Danyaalr01 said:
Longest minimum periods of imprisonment. The longest minimum period of imprisonment on a sentence of life imprisonment is 30 years, currently being served by William Dwane Bell. No person in New Zealand has yet been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

So I'm guessing he may be the first one to get life imprisonment without the possibility if parole, and he'll probably get more than 30 years.
Click to expand...

30 years is too low. This scumbag needs to be locked up for the rest of his life. Death penalty would be nice.
 
A man accused of deadly attacks on mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch a year ago has pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder.

Brenton Tarrant, 29, also admitted the attempted murder of another 40 people, and one terrorism charge.

He had previously denied the charges and was due to go on trial in June.

The gun attacks at two mosques sent shockwaves around the world. In the wake of the killings, New Zealand brought in stricter gun laws.

New Zealand is in a state of lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak and the plea was made at a scaled-down court hearing in Christchurch High Court on Thursday.

No members of the public were allowed in to the hearing and Tarrant, from New South Wales, Australia, and his lawyers appeared via video link.

A representative of the two mosques that were attacked was allowed to attend the hearing to represent the victims and their families.

Judge Justice Cameron Mander said: "It is regrettable that the Covid-19 restrictions that presently apply do not permit victims and their families to travel to be present in the courtroom when the defendant entered his pleas of guilty."

Sentencing on the 92 charges will take place at a date yet to be set. Tarrant was remanded in custody until 1 May when the court hopes to be able to set a sentencing date.

Justice Mander added: "There is no intention to sentence the defendant before the court returns to its normal operations and at a time when the victims and their families can attend court in person."

Farid Ahmed, who lost his wife Husna in the attack on Al Noor Mosque (Masjid An-Nur), told TVNZ that many would be relieved they did not have to go through the trial, but others would feel very sad, still thinking about their loved ones.

Speaking of the gunman, he said: "I have been praying for him and he has taken the right direction. I am pleased he is feeling guilty, it is a good start."

Minutes after Brenton Tarrant changed his plea, families of mosque attack victims began finding out on the rumour mill.

And to everyone it seems to have been a huge shock and surprise.

I was in Christchurch just a couple of weeks ago for the first anniversary of the attacks. The trial looming in early June was something many told me they were dreading.

Witnesses being forced to revisit what happened; graphic CCTV and the head-mounted camera of the attacker being played frame by frame.

But a few said they were - in a way - looking forward to it, to seeing justice being done. It gave them a focus.

One father told me he had learned that his son's actions in Al Noor Mosque had been heroic. He had wanted to see and hear that in court for himself - and for the world to see and hear it.

People like him will no longer have the opportunity to get that level of detail to what happened to their loved ones.

And, because of the Covid-19 lockdown, they did not even get the chance to hear the guilty pleas in person.

But not having a trial takes away one real fear: that Tarrant would use the occasion as a platform to push his right-wing agenda of hate, something the justice system, the media and most importantly the Muslim community were desperate to avoid.

How did the attacks unfold?

The shootings on 15 March 2019 began when the gunman drove to the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, entered the building and began shooting.

Less than 30 seconds later, he returned to his car, picked up another weapon, then re-entered the mosque and resumed his attack.

Footage from a headcam he was wearing showed him pass from room to room, killing as he went. The shootings were broadcast on Facebook Live.

He then drove to the Linwood mosque where he shot two people outside and then shot at the windows.

A man from inside the mosque came outside, picked up one of the attacker's shotguns, and chased him away.

Two police officers then chased and arrested the suspect.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the massacre, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had "fundamentally changed" because of the attacks.

She acknowledged that "much more" needed to be done to stop radicalisation in the country.

"The challenge for us will be ensuring in our everyday actions, and every opportunity where we see bullying, harassment, racism, discrimination, calling it out as a nation," she said.

"That is when we'll show we each individually have a role to play in making sure that New Zealand has changed fundamentally for the better."

Immediately after the attacks, Ms Ardern said the government would bring in laws to make it harder for New Zealanders to access firearms.

In April, less than a month after the shootings, parliament voted by 119 to 1 to change the gun laws.

Military-style semi-automatic weapons were banned, as were parts that could be used to build prohibited firearms.

In June, a buy-back scheme began, where the government would compensate owners of newly-illegal weapons.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52044013
 
Prince William has checked in on Christchurch's Muslim community a year after two mosque shootings claimed 51 lives.

The royal joined in on a Zoom video call with survivors he met when visiting New Zealand in the aftermath of the Al Noor and Linwood mosque terrorist attacks in March 2019.

The shooting was the deadliest in New Zealand's modern history, and the government responded by banning most semi-automatic weapons.

William spoke about grief and healing with Imam Alani Lateef and Imam Gamal Fouda from the mosques, members of the community including Farid Ahmad who lost his wife Husna in the attack, and representatives from the Muslim Association of Canterbury, and told them: "I stand here ready to help you."

The Duke of Cambridge asked how the killings were still being felt by the community today.

Community member Dahabo Ali told the duke she knows some families who are "still in shock" and that raw emotions have resurfaced following the gunman's guilty plea.

Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 29, is due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism.

On the impact of the shootings on the younger generation, she added: "The youth are making Islamic identity normal so Islamophobia is something of the past rather than something continuing to fight every single day.

"People are continuing to not only feel safe but have their voices heard and being seen in New Zealand.

"I think with everything that happened we are being heard and seen and things are changing."

The duke told them: "I'm really proud of all of you, the whole community and the New Zealand government for how you have all dealt with such an atrocity.

"You are a role model for how something so tragic can be negotiated with the utmost grace and dignity."

William visited New Zealand in the aftermath of the attacks in April 2019 which he called a "cruel nightmare" and urged the world to "unite and fight the violent brand of extremism" that led to the deadly atrocities.

It was not the first time he had been to Christchurch after tragedy - he also visited the city after it was devastated by an earthquake in 2011, which killed 185 people.

https://news.sky.com/story/prince-w...ommunity-a-year-after-mosque-attacks-11988592
 
The Muslim community is divided over whether an interview with the man convicted of killing 51 people in their community should be made public.

The Royal Commission into the Christchurch massacre interviewed gunman Brenton Tarrant as part of its efforts to give the public answers about the tragic shooting, which occurred on March 15, 2019.

Some in the community believe it's important to hear what he said, others don't want to hear from him again.

Nadeem Khan lost his brother-in-law and nephew during the shooting, and he has no interest in learning more about the man or his reasons behind committing the mass killing.

"We are not interested in him anymore, what he has done is done."

Khan instead wants the focus on how he wasn't caught and slipped through the cracks.

"Everybody knows what he has done and how he has done it. We should be focussing on how to prevent such an incident again."

But leader of the Islamic Women's Council of New Zealand Anjum Rahman wants the shooter's interview released in its entirety.

"It's important information for us to know what was asked of the killer, what his responses were and how we can understand better why and how he did what he did."

Aya Al-Umari lost her brother Hussein at Al Noor Mosque, and she trusts the commissioners to make the right decision and include some or all of the interview if it helps achieve its objectives.

"Not so much verbatim as to what had happened in that particular interview, but as long as the terms of reference are fulfilled then that's what is really important to me."

Khan says the widows close to him are all making good progress at recovering from the deadly day, but hearing from the gunman will further pry open their wounds.

"They are moving in a good direction but if this thing comes up, it will impact their recovery process."

The Royal Commission isn't commenting on the situation.

The report is due to be completed at the end of next month.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-...f-interview-with-shooter-brenton-tarrant.html
 
The gunman behind New Zealand's Christchurch mosque shootings sacked his lawyers and opted to represent himself on Monday, raising concern he would use next month's sentencing hearing to promote his white supremacist views.

Brenton Tarrant, who is an Australian, will be sentenced on August 24 on 51 murder convictions, 40 of attempted murder and one of "terrorism" arising in relation to last year's massacre, the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's modern history.

He has already pleaded guilty to the charges.

At a pre-sentencing hearing on Monday, High Court judge Cameron Mander allowed Tarrant's lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, to withdraw from proceedings at the request of their client. The two said the decision was within Tarrant's rights.

"Tarrant has instructed counsel that he wishes to act for himself at sentence," the lawyers said in a statement emailed to Reuters news agency. "We are not disappointed by Mr Tarrant's decision."

The judge ordered "standby counsel" to be available next month in case Tarrant - who appeared in the Christchurch court via video link from an Auckland prison - changed his mind.

New Zealand Muslim Association president Ikhlaq Kashkari questioned Tarrant's motives, saying victims could be traumatised again if the attacker were allowed to spout far-right rhetoric from the dock.

"My first concern when I read this was 'Oh my God, what's this guy up to, is he going to use this as a platform to promote his views and thoughts?'," he told AFP news agency.

"A lot of people are still going through trauma and this was seen as one of those events that would give them closure. I hope it's not going to be something that will trigger more pain instead."

In March 2019, Tarrant shot Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers at two Christchurch mosques, live-streaming the killings on Facebook as he went.

His victims included children, women and the elderly.

The former gym instructor unexpectedly reversed his not-guilty plea in March this year, removing the need for a lengthy trial.
Christchurch attacker pleads guilty to all charges

The terrorism and murder charges all carry life sentences, setting a minimum non-parole period of 17 years while also giving the judge power to imprison Tarrant without the possibility of release. New Zealand does not have the death penalty.

Survivors and the families of victims will be present during the three-day sentencing hearing and Islamic Women's Council of New Zealand spokeswoman Anjum Rahman said many would not want to hear from Tarrant.

While she did not want to speculate on Tarrant's motive for representing himself, she said: "He has shown in the past that he likes to get attention and he wants attention.

"I feel this is all part of that mindset."

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...ter-represent-sentencing-200713043219976.html
 
<iframe width="400" height="500" frameborder="0" src="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/embed/p08p74sp/53858369"></iframe>

Christchurch mosque attacks: 'I'm close to forgiving, but not there yet'

Hamimah Tuyan's husband, Zekeriya, was one of 51 people killed by the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch in March 2019.

The Australian gunman has pleaded guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and terrorism.

Hamimah has flown from Singapore to New Zealand to give a victim impact statement at his sentencing.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-53858369
 
The sentencing of the terrorist responsible for New Zealand's deadliest shooting by a sole gunman will begin on Monday.

Brenton Tarrant has admitted killing 51 people when he opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch in March last year.

The 29-year-old Australian is also being sentenced for the attempted murder of 40 people and for one terrorism charge.

The far-right extremist is expected to be in court in Christchurch for the four-day sentencing amid tight security.

Police patrols will be increased in the area and mental health specialists will be on hand to support any of those affected.

It will be the first time survivors and victims' families, some of whom will be in court, will see him.

"I don't think [there's] a single day I will not feel the depth of the agony that we went through on that day," said Imam Alabi Lateef Zikrullah, who was at Linwood Islamic Centre when the shooting began.

"I don't want to see his face. When I see his face, I remember those 51 people."

The unprecedented killings shocked the nation and devastated the local community.

During the attack on 15 March 2019 Tarrant targeted worshippers at the city's Al Noor mosque as they gathered for Friday prayers.

After murdering 42 people, he then drove to the Linwood Islamic Centre where he continued his massacre before being arrested by police in a nearby street.

Tarrant published a manifesto, which he sent to leading politicians shortly before he began the attack, while he also live-streamed the shootings.

Both the manifesto and the video of the attack have been banned by authorities in New Zealand.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters the sentencing will be an extremely difficult time for many.

"I don't think there's anything I can say that is going to ease how traumatic that period is going to be," she said.

"The whole process is likely to take some time, that's as it should be, people need to be heard."

Some of those involved in the case have travelled from overseas and had to spend 14 days in quarantine due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus.

More than 60 people have given victim impact statements, which will form part of the hearing.

In order to avoid any further trauma, the judge can prevent the publication of their statements if he sees fit.

Live reporting of the proceedings has been banned and other media restrictions have also been put in place.

Tarrant faces life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 17 years.

But the judge has the power to decide on imprisoning him without possibility of release, which means he would spend the rest of his life in jail.

If that happens, Tarrant would be the first person in New Zealand to be sent to prison for all of their natural life.

https://news.sky.com/story/new-zeal...ivors-at-four-day-sentencing-hearing-12053914
 
Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant faces sentencing hearing

The Australian white supremacist who killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand last year will face survivors of his attack on Monday at a sentencing hearing.

Australian Brenton Tarrant is likely to be jailed for life for the rampage.

Tarrant pleaded guilty in March and was convicted of 51 murders, 40 attempted murders and one charge of terrorism.

He is expected to appear in court for a four-day hearing at which survivors and victims' family members will speak.

The hearing will take place at the courthouse in Christchurch, the city where Tarrant carried out the attacks in March 2019. The first session is due to begin on Monday at 10:00 (22:00 GMT Sunday).

Tarrant, 29, from New South Wales, had previously denied the charges and was due to face trial in June, before reversing his plea. He now faces a minimum sentence of 17 years, but Justice Cameron Mander, the High Court judge presiding over the case, has the power to sentence him to a full life term with no parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand.

More than 60 people will give in-person victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing. Some have travelled from overseas and undergone a two-week coronavirus quarantine in order to take part.

Dr Hamimah Tuyan, whose husband Zekeriya Tuyan died nearly seven weeks after being shot at the An-nur Masjid mosque, flew from Singapore in time to undergo quarantine for the hearing.

Dr Tuyan told the BBC she had wavered about whether to write an impact statement to be read in front of Tarrant, worried that it might "fan his narcissism", but decided ultimately that she would.

"I haven't really had time to think about how I feel about him or how I feel about seeing him in the flesh," she said. "I hope I will be cool, calm and collected."

Hundreds of others will have to watch the proceedings on video feeds from other courtrooms in the city to allow for social distancing measures. The proceedings will not be shown live to the general public.

Justice Mander said in an order issued this month that the court would have the power to restrict the publication of victim statements if needed.

Tarrant's attacks on the two mosques, parts of which he livestreamed online, sent shockwaves around the world and prompted New Zealand to make swift changes to its gun laws.

Less than a month after the shootings, the country's parliament voted by 119 to 1 on reforms banning military-style semi-automatic weapons as well as parts that could be used to build prohibited firearms.

The government offered to compensate owners of newly-illegal weapons in a buy-back scheme.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53861456
 
The man who killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019 had plans to target a third mosque, his sentencing hearing has heard.

Brenton Tarrant also planned to burn down the mosques, wanting to "inflict as many fatalities as possible".

The Australian has pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 attempted murders and one charge of terrorism.

Tarrant, 29, faces life in prison, possibly without parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand.

The attacks, parts of which the gunman streamed live online, saw him open fire at two mosques in Christchurch on 15 March last year.

He first drove to the Al Noor mosque, firing on people taking part in Friday prayers. He then drove about 5km (3 miles) to the Linwood mosque and killed more people.

The attack sent shockwaves around the world and prompted New Zealand to make swift changes to its gun laws.

How did the attack unfold?
The sentencing hearing, which will last four days, began on Monday morning in Christchurch.

Covid-19 restrictions mean the main court room is relatively empty. Hundreds will watch the proceedings on video feeds from other courtrooms in the city to allow for social distancing measures.

Dressed in grey prison clothes and surrounded in the dock by three police officers, the gunman reportedly remained silent, occasionally looking around the room where survivors and relatives of the victims were sitting.

Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes told the court that the gunman had began formulating a plan years earlier, and his goal was to "inflict as many fatalities as possible".

He gathered information about mosques in New Zealand - studying floor plans, locations and further details - with the aim of targeting them at the time they would be busiest.

In the months before the attack, he travelled to Christchurch and flew a drone over his primary target, the Al Noor mosque.

He also planned to target the Ashburton Mosque in addition to the Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, but was detained while on his way to the third mosque.

On the day of the attack, he shot people on the street as they tried to escape the Al Noor mosque, the court heard.

This included one victim, Ansi Alibava, whose body he drove over as he left the mosque.

As he drove towards the Linwood Islamic Centre, he stopped and shot at men of African origin who were able to escape. He briefly pointed his gun at a Caucasian man, the court heard, but then "smiled and then drove off".

He told police after his arrest that his plan was to burn down the mosques after his attack, and that he wished he had done so.

Tarrant is representing himself in court. He had previously denied the charges and was due to face trial in June, but reversed his plea.

He faces a minimum sentence of 17 years, but Justice Cameron Mander, the High Court judge presiding over the case, has the power to sentence him to a full life term with no parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand.

Who were some of the victims?
More than 60 people will give victim impact statements over the course of the next few days.

The imam of Al-Noor Mosque, Gamal Fouda - who was the first to speak - addressed Tarrant, calling him "misguided and misled".

He said he saw the "hate in the eyes of a brainwashed terrorist" as he was standing in the pulpit, telling Tarrant: "Your hatred is unnecessary."

The son of victim Ashraf Ali, said he still suffered trauma, saying: "I have flashbacks, seeing dead bodies all around me. Blood everywhere."

Hosne Ara, killed while searching for her husband who uses a wheelchair - he survived.

Some relatives of victims travelled from overseas and undergone a two-week coronavirus quarantine in order to take part.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said it will be a difficult week for survivors and families of the victims.

"I don't think there's anything I can say that is going to ease how traumatic that period is going to be," she said last week.

She has vowed never to say the gunman's name saying soon after the attack: "He sought many things from his act of terror - but one was notoriety."

Less than a month after the shootings, New Zealand's parliament voted by 119 to 1 on reforms banning military-style semi-automatic weapons as well as parts that could be used to build prohibited firearms.

The government offered to compensate owners of newly-illegal weapons in a buy-back scheme.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53861456
 
To see the racism and hatred in the UK I would suggest people to pull up the Sun online, click on the article and then click on comments.
 
Christchurch shooting: Gunman Tarrant wanted to kill 'as many as possible'

The man who killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019 had plans to target a third mosque, his sentencing hearing has heard.

Brenton Tarrant also planned to burn down the mosques, wanting to "inflict as many fatalities as possible".

The Australian has pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 attempted murders and one charge of terrorism.

Tarrant, 29, faces life in prison, possibly without parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand.

He was confronted by survivors and relatives of the victims in court on Monday.

"You gave yourself the authority to take the souls of 51 innocent people, their only crime - in your eyes - being Muslims," said Maysoon Salama, whose son Atta Elayyan was killed.

"You transgress beyond comprehension, I cannot forgive you."

The attacks, parts of which the gunman streamed live online, saw him open fire at two mosques in Christchurch on 15 March last year.

He first drove to the Al Noor mosque, firing on people taking part in Friday prayers. He then drove about 5km (3 miles) to the Linwood mosque and killed more people.

The attack sent shockwaves around the world and prompted New Zealand to make swift changes to its gun laws.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53861456
 
Survivors and relatives of victims from a mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques described in court on Tuesday how more than a year after the attack, they are still having trouble sleeping, enjoying life and providing for their families.

It was the second day of a four-day sentencing hearing for Brenton Tarrant, an Australian self-confessed white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers and wounded dozens more during the March 2019 attacks.

The 29-year-old in March pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, and "terrorism", reversing an earlier "not guilty" plea. He could become the first person in New Zealand to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, the toughest sentence available.

The hearings have given many a chance to confront Tarrant, who showed little emotion as he sat in the dock surrounded by five officers.

Rashid Omar, whose 24-year-old son Tariq was killed at the Al Noor mosque, said he had desperately held out hope his son had survived until police and Muslim leaders read out a list of those who died.

"My body went completely weak and everything went silent," Omar said, breaking down into tears.

"As a parent, no matter how old your children are, they'll always be your baby."

Each day has become a burden to endure and he finds even simple tasks hard to complete, Omar said. He wakes up tired and with no energy. He once loved photography, he said, but now cannot bear to pick up a camera.

Omar's wife Rosemary said she functions from moment to moment, often in a fog. The loss and grief is debilitating, she said, and has cast a shadow over everything in their lives.

"It's like I'm broken, and I see my family as broken," she said.

'Irreparable damage'
Ambreen Naeem, who lost both her husband Naeem Rashid and son Talha in the killings, branded the gunman the "biggest loser".

"Since my husband and son passed away, I've never had a proper, normal sleep. I don't think I ever will," she said. "It is irreparable damage to me, that is why his punishment should continue forever."


Naeem Rashid was hailed as a hero and prosecutor Barnaby Hawes said he "allowed a number of other worshippers to escape" when he charged at Tarrant in the Al Noor mosque and partially knocked him down.

Many of those who spoke described continuing financial strain.

Motasim Uddin, who was shot in the leg and spent more than three months in hospital, said he had not been able to return to his job as a welder and was worried about his future, especially as he was trying to support his parents in Bangladesh.

"I cannot forget what happened, what I saw," Uddin said. "I try to forget, but I wake up thinking about it."

Mohammad Siddiqui was shot in the arm when "the devil" arrived at the Al Noor mosque.

"Yes, I call him a devil because you entered the house of God with evil intentions to kill innocent people. You've killed the dreams of my friends and family with ... your gutless action."

Noraini Milne, whose 14-year-old son Sayyad was killed, said her own survival came as a blessing as she planned to spend her life helping others.

"You are already dead to me," she said to Tarrant. "Whatever punishment you are going to receive in this world will never be enough."

Tarrant has dismissed his lawyers and is representing himself during the sentencing, raising fears he could try to use the occasion as a platform to promote his racist views. He can choose to speak once the survivors have spoken, although the judge is expected to stop any attempt to grandstand.

No remorse
The attacks targeting people praying at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques shocked New Zealand and prompted new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons.

They also prompted global changes to social media protocols after the gunman livestreamed his attack on Facebook, where it was viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.

Tarrant, a former gym instructor, said he wanted to instil fear into those he described as "invaders", including New Zealand's Muslim population.

But Raesha Ismail, who lost her brother Junaid in the attack, said it only strengthened her beliefs and she was now "more open with practising my faith in the workplace".

Angela Armstrong, whose mother Linda died in the attack, challenged Tarrant to use his life in prison to consider the beauty and diversity of the freedom he sought to destroy.

"You robbed me of my mother, of her love and strength. Likely you will also never again feel the love and warmth of your mother's hug either. While I have pity for your mum, I have no emotion for you. You are nothing," she said.

"While he will remain trapped in a cage my mum is free. I therefore challenge Tarrant to use his remaining lifetime to consider the beauty and life to be found in diversity and freedom that he sought to distort and destroy."

Linda Armstrong's nephew Kyron Gosse said he felt "utter rage" that Tarrant travelled to New Zealand from Australia and "stole our nation's innocence".

"To this day, I have not received an apology nor have I seen any shred of remorse for his despicable actions," he said.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...oss-rage-zealand-attacks-200825032347873.html
 
Grieving families urge 'life, no parole' sentence for NZ mosque gunman

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Families of victims gunned down at two New Zealand mosques urged a judge to impose the toughest possible sentence, life without parole, on the gunman as he showed no remorse and appeared to smirk at one survivor during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Mirwais Waziri, who was wounded during the 2019 attack at Christchurch’s Al Noor mosque, put aside his prepared court statement and addressed white supremacist Brenton Tarrant directly, after seeing that he did not have “any regrets, any shame in his eyes”.

“He does not regret anything,” said Waziri in the High Court in Christchurch on day two of the sentencing hearings.

“Today you are called terrorist and you proved to the world that us Muslims are not terrorists. I say to the people of New Zealand that terrorist do not have religion, race and colour,” said Waziri,” whose words drew applause from the public gallery.

Nathan Smith, originally from Britain and a survivor of the Al Noor mosque shooting, also spoke directly to Tarrant who sat in grey prison clothes cornered by guards.

“When you get a free minute, which you will have plenty of. Funny, eh? Very funny. Maybe you should try to read the Koran. It’s beautiful,” he said, reacting to Tarrant’s apparent smirk.

Tarrant, a 29-year-old Australian, is scheduled to be sentenced this week after pleading guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the 2019 shooting rampage in the city of Christchurch which he livestreamed on Facebook.

Prosecutors have told the court Tarrant carefully planned the attacks to cause maximum carnage by accumulating high-powered firearms and ammunition, training at rifle clubs and studying mosque layouts.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...e-sentence-for-nz-mosque-gunman-idUSKBN25L04C
 
Firebat said:
Grieving families urge 'life, no parole' sentence for NZ mosque gunman

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Families of victims gunned down at two New Zealand mosques urged a judge to impose the toughest possible sentence, life without parole, on the gunman as he showed no remorse and appeared to smirk at one survivor during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Mirwais Waziri, who was wounded during the 2019 attack at Christchurch’s Al Noor mosque, put aside his prepared court statement and addressed white supremacist Brenton Tarrant directly, after seeing that he did not have “any regrets, any shame in his eyes”.

“He does not regret anything,” said Waziri in the High Court in Christchurch on day two of the sentencing hearings.

“Today you are called terrorist and you proved to the world that us Muslims are not terrorists. I say to the people of New Zealand that terrorist do not have religion, race and colour,” said Waziri,” whose words drew applause from the public gallery.

Nathan Smith, originally from Britain and a survivor of the Al Noor mosque shooting, also spoke directly to Tarrant who sat in grey prison clothes cornered by guards.

“When you get a free minute, which you will have plenty of. Funny, eh? Very funny. Maybe you should try to read the Koran. It’s beautiful,” he said, reacting to Tarrant’s apparent smirk.

Tarrant, a 29-year-old Australian, is scheduled to be sentenced this week after pleading guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the 2019 shooting rampage in the city of Christchurch which he livestreamed on Facebook.

Prosecutors have told the court Tarrant carefully planned the attacks to cause maximum carnage by accumulating high-powered firearms and ammunition, training at rifle clubs and studying mosque layouts.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...e-sentence-for-nz-mosque-gunman-idUSKBN25L04C
Click to expand...

Looks like Tarrant has no remorse. He deserves the harshest penalty.
 
Last edited:
Relatives of victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre have pleaded with the judge at the killer's sentencing hearing to make sure he is never freed.

Brenton Tarrant, who was described as a coward, weak and a heinous terrorist on the third day of his hearing, will not speak at his sentencing on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Australian has been representing himself in court but a standby lawyer, whose services Tarrant can use if he wishes to, has been instructed to make a brief statement on his behalf.

Tarrant has admitted killing 51 men, women and children while they prayed at two city mosques last year.

He has also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a further 40 worshippers, and a charge of terrorism.

The day was once again dominated by heartfelt and emotional victim impact statements. Tarrant showed little emotion as he listened.

Aden Diriye's young son was shot dead in the massacre. His statement was read by his other son, Abdiramen Ibrahim.

In it he said: "This terrorist killed my beloved three-year-old son, and to me it is as though you have killed the whole of New Zealand."

He described how his son played in the mosque and was adored by everyone there, and at home how he would run around pretending to be a cop and wear a police uniform.

Mr Diriye looked Tarrant directly in the eye, as his words were read to the court: "Know that true justice is waiting for you in the next life, and that will be far more severe."

Ahad Nabi who lost his elderly father, Haji Mohemmed Daoud Nabi, also spoke directly to Tarrant: "You hurt my father, but you never took him away from me. You physically hurt him, but gifted my father with becoming a martyr.

"I do not forgive you, while you are in prison you will come to the reality that you are now in hell and only the fire awaits you.

"Your father was a garbage man, you became trash of society, he is ashamed of your identity. You deserved to be buried in a landfill.

"My 71-year-old dad would have broken you in half if you had challenged him to a fight. You are weak."

John Milne's 14-year old son, Sayyad Milne, was shot in the back of his head while he knelt in prayer. "I've forgiven you Brenton," he said.

"You are a terrorist, a murderer but still a man. Not a single bullet hit me, but there's a huge hole in my heart - if you get the chance I would like you to say sorry."

Sheik Rubel has undergone seven surgeries for his gunshot wounds and is back in hospital for more next month.

"I was shot three times, left with broken hips, three broken toes, shrapnel in my jaw and a bullet near my spine," he told the court.

"I felt like bullets were coming from everywhere. The second bullet hit my right hip. There are no words to describe how scared I felt at the time. I was getting hit by one bullet after another and just waiting to die."

Sazada Akhter, who will never walk again and was left in a coma, described her horrific injuries through a support person.

"I am in a wheelchair for the rest of my life," she said.

"You will not stop me from achieving my dreams. While you are in prison please think about what you have done to me. I will survive and prosper."

Tarrant faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, but the high court judge, Justice Cameron Mander, has the option of sentencing Tarrant to life in prison without parole, a penalty never before used in New Zealand.

The judge stopped and thanked the man who tried to stop the killing spree.

Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah threw a credit card machine at the gunman's head, picked up a gun he dropped and chased him, smashing the window of his car as he fled the scene.

"He looked at me, did the finger and said I will f****** kill all of you," he said.

He told Tarrant: "You are gutless. You know this face... the one who chased you out... You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you. It would have been a different story."

As he finished reading his statement and went to leave the court, the judge said to him: "Before you go, I have seen the video and I want to acknowledge your courage."

Applause erupted in the public gallery.

Tarrant is due to be sentenced on Thursday.

https://news.sky.com/story/christch...e-but-theres-a-huge-hole-in-my-heart-12056766
 
Christchurch shooting: Grief and defiance as victims confront gunman

Survivors and families of victims of a mosque shooting in New Zealand have spoken out against gunman Brenton Tarrant, in the third day of a four-day sentencing hearing.

There was a sense of grief - but also one of defiance - in the air as almost 90 people spoke about the incident that killed 51 people in Christchurch.

Dozens more were injured when Tarrant opened fire on two mosques last year.

He has chosen not to speak in court before his sentencing on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Australian has pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 attempted murders and one charge of terrorism.

He faces life in prison, possibly without parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand.

In a court room on Wednesday, there were tears cried, Koran verses read and photographs of loved ones held high, as the last of the victims and relatives gave their statements.

Here are some of the powerful statements that they made.

<iframe width="400" height="500" frameborder="0" src="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/embed/p08pnllv/53902158"></iframe>

‘These tears are not for you’

Sara Qasem’s father died at the Al Noor Mosque.

“My name is Sara Qasem. Daughter of a shining glimmering man… of Abdelfattah Qasem - remember that name,” the 24-year-old said.

She spoke about the last moments of her father’s life, saying: “I wonder if he was in pain, if he was frightened, and what his final thoughts were. And I wish more than anything in the world that I could have been there to hold his hand and tell him it would all be ok. But I couldn’t do that.”

She added that she had plans with her father that would now go unfulfilled, saying she wanted to “go on road trips with him. Smell his home cooking.”

Ms Qasem composed herself as she started crying, looking at Tarrant and saying “these tears are not for you”.

‘My son asked, why did he kill my baba?’

Hamimah Tuyan, the wife of Zekeriya Tuyan, who battled for 48 days before succumbing to his injuries, spoke about missing her husband.

“No amount of money can bring back the father of my sons and my husband. I miss [his] cooking, his lame dad jokes, his snores. He was my bodyguard, my entertainer, my comforter, my best friend,” she said.

“My eldest son only has five years of memories with his father, my wee one - not enough. My son asked, why did he kill my baba? To help the children understand, I explain to them that the ignorant man is like the boy in their preschool that doesn’t know how to play with the other children in the pre-school, so he communicates and expresses his fear by hitting them first.

“I see the longing in my son’s eyes as he watch other boys holding hands, building Legos with their fathers - how do I, their mum, console their aching hearts? My sons love their baba so much that they will jump on him, plant kisses all over him every day. Now their baba will not be here to celebrate their future successes - they will not have him to lead them by example.

“[But] your heinous acts brought thousands of New Zealanders together in solidarity with us. I feel like you are the victim here - we are the survivors.”

‘You became trash of society’

Ahad Nabi lost his elderly father Haj at the Al Noor mosque. Clad in a New Zealand Warriors rugby league jersey, Ahad did not hold back his fury when he spoke to Tarrant.

Calling Tarrant a “maggot”, he went on to say: “Your father was a garbage man and you became trash of society. You deserve to be buried in a landfill.”

He also called on the judge to ensure that this “**** never be allowed to walk from the prison in his lifetime”, adding that his “71-year-old dad would have broke you in half if you challenge him to a fight”.

‘Their only crime in your eyes is being Muslims’

Maysoon Salama, mother of Muhammad Ata Elayyan, teared up as she spoke of the final moments before her son’s death.

Ms Salama was supported by friends and family as she spoke in court, saying that as a mother, her heart broke “millions of times… like feeling the pain of labour again and again”.

“I constantly try to imagine how my beloved Ata felt at the moment of the attack,” she said.

“How he faced the shooter… what was in his mind when he realised he is departing this life to his last journey? You gave yourself the authority to take the souls of 51 innocent people, their only crime in your eyes is being Muslims.”

‘You made us come together with more determination and strength’

Wasseim Sati Ali Daragmih was with his daughter at the Al Noor Mosque where they were shot at several times.

Daragmih was defiant as he approached the stand, addressing Tarrant directly.

“Good afternoon everyone - except you,” he said. “Thankfully we have survived because you don’t know how to use a gun - except from zero point.”

Tarrant himself burst out laughing - then caught himself and covered his mouth.

Daragmih’s words quickly became serious, saying Tarrant had “failed” to destroy their community”.

“You think your actions have destroyed our community and shaken our faith, but you have not succeeded. You have made us come together with more determination and strength,” he said.

“So you have failed completely. So you have failed completely.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53902158
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Because of you, my faith is stronger and I want to learn more about Islam. So, thank you"<br><br>Watch the emotional impact statement of Nathan Smith at court, a survivor of the 2019 Christchurch Mosque attacks that killed 51 worshippers. <a href="https://t.co/J1unGCu2xK">pic.twitter.com/J1unGCu2xK</a></p>— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1298621227225903104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Saw the comment section on YouTube below one of the videos of survivors’ statements.

Let’s just say that there’s a lot of mini-Brenton Tarrants in the world.
 
Sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The first person to ever get that sentence in NZ.
 
_114137375_5aedfe51-7284-4d07-a718-43c0494b098a.jpg


A New Zealand court has sentenced a man who killed 51 people at two mosques to life in prison without parole, the first person in the country's history to receive this sentence.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 29, admitted to the murder of 51 people, attempted murder of another 40 people and one charge of terrorism.

The judge called his actions "inhuman", adding that he had "showed no mercy".

The attack last march, which was livestreamed, shocked the world.

"Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die, it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment," said Judge Cameron Mander in a Christchurch court on Thursday.

On imposing a sentence of life without parole, Justice Mander said: "If not here, then when?"

A sentence without parole means the offender will not be given the opportunity to leave prison after serving only a portion of their total sentence.

Justice Mander said such sentences were reserved only for the "very worst murders".

New Zealand does not have the death penalty as part of its justice system.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, upon hearing of Tarrant's sentencing, said it meant he would have "no notoriety, no platform... and we have no cause to think about him, to see him or to hear from him again".

"Today I hope is the last where we have any cause to hear or utter the name of the terrorist," she said.

In the wake of the killings New Zealand brought in stricter gun laws.

What did the judge say?

On the last day of a four-day sentencing hearing, Justice Mander spent almost an hour reminding Tarrant of each person he killed and injured.

He added that despite the gunman's guilty pleas, the gunman appeared "neither contrite nor ashamed".

Tarrant, who said through a lawyer in court that he did not oppose the prosecution's application for a life without parole sentence, did not react to the sentence. He had earlier also refused the right to speak at his sentencing.

The sentencing hearing began on Monday, with a large part of the first three days dedicated to hearing victim impact statements.

Tarrant appeared largely emotionless over the past three days, as almost 90 victims - some grieving, others defiant - confronted him.

Sara Qasem, whose father Abdelfattah Qasem died at the Al Noor Mosque, spoke of the last moments of his death, saying: "I wonder if he was in pain, if he was frightened, and what his final thoughts were. And I wish more than anything in the world that I could have been there to hold his hand and tell him it would all be OK."

She struggled to hold back her tears, before looking at Tarrant and saying "these tears are not for you".

The gunman opened fire on two mosques in the city on 15 March last year.

He first targeted worshippers inside the Al Noor mosque. Less than 30 seconds later, he returned to his car to pick up another weapon and then re-entered the mosque and resumed firing on those inside.

The entire incident was broadcast on Facebook Live via a headcam he was wearing.

He then drove to the Linwood Islamic Centre where he shot two people outside and then shot at the windows.

A man from inside rushed outside and picked up one of the attacker's shotguns before chasing him away.

Two police officers then chased and arrested the gunman. After his arrest, he told police that his plan was to burn down mosques after his attack and he wished he had done so.

During this week's sentencing, the court heard that the gunman planned to target another mosque but was detained by officers on the way.

The attack prompted New Zealand to reform its gun laws.

Less than a month after the shootings, the country's parliament voted by 119 to 1 on reforms banning military-style semi-automatic weapons as well as parts that could be used to build prohibited firearms.

The government offered to compensate owners of newly-illegal weapons in a buy-back scene.

Ms Ardern has said that "much more" needs to be done to stop radicalisation in the country.

"The challenge for us will be ensuring in our everyday actions, and every opportunity where we see bullying, harassment, racism, discrimination, calling it out as a nation," she said on the first anniversary of the attacks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53919624
 
The right sentence, given that it was the hardest punishment available and this is what he was deservedly given. But nothing will ever make up for what he did. In a case so heinous, even the death penalty would not have been enough for this barbarian.
 
They should put him in with the general population. The gangs would eat him alive.
 
Saw a heartbreaking clip of the revert, who was at the mosque, when it happened. He gave his witness statement and on the day he was carrying a 3 year old and was praying that he'd be still alive. Sadly he wasn't. He will be traumatised by this for the rest of his life but he mentioned it keep him closer to God.

May Allah bless everyone who were affected by the actions of this terrorist and grant those (who are no longer with us) with the highest rank of Jannah. Ameen.
 
Life living in a nice warm cell with 3 hot meals, access to entertainment, education, gym is not a punishment 0.1% to the crimes committed. No issue with NZ, this is their toughest sentence possible but in a just world he should be sent straight to God with his firearm in his grave.
 
These racist ideologies don't come in a vacuum.

The internet, for all the good it has done humanity, unfortunately has provided safe spaces to angry young men looking to latch onto a cause. Qanon, 4Chan, 8Chan and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, to name just a few, are forums where these extremists converge and are incited to act on their hatred.

Free speech is not absolute - especially when used to promote the destruction of life, the murder of those who look and pray differently.

This vile man has rightly been condemned to live a purposeless existence in a 6 by 8 cell for the rest of his day. NZ's politicians acted swiftly on gun laws. However, the whole world must reckon with how these ideologies can be defeated to avoid further tragedy and heartbreak.
 
Compelling and strong words from the New Zealand PM:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"It gave me relief to know that that person will never see the light of day."<br><br>Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, says she is relieved that the gunman who killed 51 Muslim worshippers in two Christchurch mosques has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. <a href="https://t.co/l81sDHBJ03">pic.twitter.com/l81sDHBJ03</a></p>— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1298942670023413762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A leader.
 
Markhor said:
These racist ideologies don't come in a vacuum.

The internet, for all the good it has done humanity, unfortunately has provided safe spaces to angry young men looking to latch onto a cause. Qanon, 4Chan, 8Chan and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, to name just a few, are forums where these extremists converge and are incited to act on their hatred.

Free speech is not absolute - especially when used to promote the destruction of life, the murder of those who look and pray differently.

This vile man has rightly been condemned to live a purposeless existence in a 6 by 8 cell for the rest of his day. NZ's politicians acted swiftly on gun laws. However, the whole world must reckon with how these ideologies can be defeated to avoid further tragedy and heartbreak.
Click to expand...

War of Terror and it's false propaganda demonsing Muslims so imperialists can bomb, loot and take over natural resources is the underlying reason for these racist, terrorist ideologies surfacing.

Sending this man to life in prison is justice but real justice will only take place when the likes of Bush, Blair, Obama, Cameron are punished for war crimes. When their public know, their leaders, their nation are the real terrorists, not some guys living in a village in Afghanistan.
 
There was some very touching statements by some of the victims during the sentencing over the past few days. I have to applaud the media on this rare occasion for focusing on the stories of the victims rather than giving any kind of spotlight to the vile human responsible.
 
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5wvwyzEaIM8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>.
 
Abdullah719 said:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5wvwyzEaIM8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>.
Click to expand...

Brilliant.

This man describes perfectly what kind of a coward Brenton Tarrant was.
 
Hijab introduced to police uniform, first officer to wear it ‘proud’

When the Christchurch terror attack happened, Zeena Ali was inspired to join the police to help her Muslim community.

And this week she will not only graduate as a police officer, but will become the first in New Zealand to don a police-issued hijab as part of her uniform.

Ali, 30, even worked with police to design a garment that is both functional for her new role and considerate of her religion.

Ali will be posted in the Tāmaki Makaurau area and is excited to get out on the beat.

“It feels great to be able to go out and show the New Zealand Police hijab as part of my uniform,” she said.

“I think that seeing it, more Muslim women will want to join as well.”

Ali was born in Fiji and moved to New Zealand with her family when she was a child.

She said she was proud to represent the Muslim community - particularly women - and hoped to inspire others to join the police and help broaden the demographic of the front line.

“It’s great - the Police went out of their way to make sure the hijab I have on meets health and safety requirements as well as my own personal needs,” she explained.

“I am proud to wear it and I hope other people out there will be proud of me as well.”

Ali said she appreciated police considering her personal needs - both at college and in her role going forward.

“At college they had a prayer room and halal meals,” she said.

“When I had to go swimming they were ok with me wearing long sleeves.”

Valuing diversity is one of the six core values for Police - alongside professionalism, respect, integrity, empathy and commitment to Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi.

“We recognise the value different perspectives and experiences bring to making us better at what we do,” Police said.

“We need people with a range of skills, backgrounds and experience levels - diversity is essential so that we can effectively serve the needs of New Zealand’s communities now and in the future.”

“As I started that process the Christchurch terror attack happened and that’s when I realised more Muslim women were needed in the police, to go and support people with things like this.

“If I had joined the police earlier I would have been down there to help.”

Police said there were certain qualities and skills they look for during the recruitment process as they worked to build a “high-performance culture, where different perspectives are valued”.

“By reflecting the communities we serve and appreciating different thinking, we aim to achieve better problem-solving and results.”

Ali’s wing, who graduate tomorrow, was “highly diverse” and female recruits outnumbered their male colleagues.

Of the graduates, 51.3 per cent were females - and 48.7 per cent of the graduates were ethnicities other than European.

https://www.thecoast.net.nz/news/hi...e-uniform-first-officer-to-wear-it-proud/#ath
 
The white supremacist who massacred dozens of worshippers at two Christchurch mosques was treated in hospital in the months leading up to the terrorist attack after accidentally shooting himself.

However, medical staff never alerted police to his injuries.

At the time, there was no mandatory legislation regarding reporting gunshot wounds, but it is understood to be a recommendation made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the attack, which will release its findings on Tuesday.

It is understood Dunedin doctors also treated the Australian-born shooter – who would become New Zealand’s first convicted terrorist – for issues arising from his steroid use.

The attack on the Masjid An-Nur (Al Noor mosque) and the Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15, 2019, left 51 people dead and dozens more injured.

Police guard the Masjid An-Nur on Deans Ave, Christchurch, following the March 15, 2019, terror attack.
But months earlier, in mid-2018, the gunman was left with bullet fragments in his eye and leg after accidentally discharging a gun while he was cleaning or handling it at his Dunedin home.

The terrorist had obtained his gun licence in November 2017 and, at the time he shot himself, was assembling a large cache of weapons and ammunition.

Had police been alerted to his injuries, they may have visited his home, examined his fitness to hold a licence and uncovered the arsenal.

Stuff understands the accidental shooting happened because the bullet was not quite chambered, the shooter was trying to dislodge it, and it discharged when the firing pin connected with the bullet.

There was damage to the ceiling of his rental property, later requiring repairs by his landlord.

The commission’s findings address the treatment he received afterwards, including evidence from the medical professionals involved, and also mentions the shooter being worried about the noise alerting neighbours.

The findings were shared with victims on Saturday ahead of their public release on Tuesday.

Some survivors are believed to be angry the accidental shooting was not reported to police, and that if the incident had been fully investigated, it could have prevented the terror attack.

Stuff reported in June that the terrorist was wrongly granted a firearms licence due to a string of police failures.

The arms manual used by firearms officers indicates there would have been reason for them to investigate him being fit and proper to hold a licence, if the accidental discharge injuries were reported.

According to the Health Information Privacy Code, information can be shared by a medical professional if they deem it “necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to public health or public safety, or the life or health of the individual concerned or another individual”.

But it was not believed to be mandatory.

The gun laws were this year reformed to include details about health practitioners giving police reports of people unfit to use a firearm.

Jacinda Ardern speaks ahead of the release of the Royal Commission's report on the March 15 terror attack on Tuesday.

Christchurch Hospital emergency department (ED) doctor Scott Pearson said he was not aware of any legal obligation for health professionals to report gunshot wounds to police, but they usually did if they believed someone was at risk.

Gunshot injuries are rare occurrences, so ED doctors have a “low threshold” for reporting such incidents to police.

However, they wouldn't usually report people with a full licence accidentally shooting themselves while cleaning or discharging a gun, unless they believed there were implications for the person's licence, he said.

It would also depend on the type of gun involved.

In August, the terrorist became the first person in New Zealand to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the prospect of parole.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/ch...ally-shot-himself-months-before-mosque-attack
 
The Government has apologised to the Muslim community for systemic shortcomings revealed by the Royal Commission report into the Christchurch terror attack, with a suite of changes on the way

New Zealand’s counter-terrorism laws will be strengthened, a new ministry for ethnic communities established, and police recording of hate crime improved in response to a report into the March 15 terror attack.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the country’s security agencies have also offered an apology to the Muslim community for years of disproportionate scrutiny, with Ardern saying: “You, and every New Zealander, deserve a system that does its best to keep you safe.”

The Government has agreed in principle to implement all 44 recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch masjidain, publicly released on Tuesday afternoon.

The Royal Commission found there was “no plausible way [the terrorist] could have been detected but by chance”.

However, it outlined a range of deficiencies in need of addressing, including the inappropriate concentration of counter-terrorism resources on the threat of Islamist extremism, substandard administration of the firearms vetting system by police, and the lack of a public-facing counter-terrorism strategy to ensure New Zealanders knew when and how to report potential threats.

In remarks directed at the Muslim community and the country more widely, Ardern said: “You, and others, have made New Zealand your home. You, and every New Zealander, deserve a system that does its best to keep you safe.”

While the Royal Commission had not found any failures within government agencies that would have allowed the terrorist’s planning and preparation to be detected, Ardern said there were a number of areas where significant change was required.

“The Commission made no findings that these issues would have stopped the attack. But these were both failings nonetheless and for that I apologise.”

The Muslim community had raised concerns for years about the disproportionate scrutiny they faced from security and intelligence agencies, supported by the report’s confirmation of an “inappropriate concentration of resources”, while failures within the firearms licensing system had also been identified.

“The Commission made no findings that these issues would have stopped the attack. But these were both failings nonetheless and for that I apologise.”

Ardern said the Government needed to ensure there was an adequate focus of resources on the range of threats New Zealand faced, while enhancing security and intelligence functions and focusing more on the importance of social cohesion.

Andrew Little would be placed in charge of coordinating the government response to the report and the implementation of its recommendations, with a multi-agency steering group set up to provide a “roadmap” in the first quarter of 2021.

A ministry for ethnic communities would be set up by mid-2021, replacing the current, lower-status Office of Ethnic Communities, while an Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme would also be created to provide 30 graduates a “meaningful first employment opportunity” within the public service.

Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the Government had asked officials to fast-track work on counter-terrorism legislation following the Christchurch attack, and would now move ahead with a range of amendments to improve the law.

The definition of a “terrorist act” would be clarified, while new offences would be created to cover the act of planning or preparing for a terrorist act, as well as the use of terrorist weapons and combat training.


Jacinda Ardern appears alongside ministers Andrew Little, Poto Williams and Priyanca Radhakrishnan, along with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and NZSIS director-general Rebecca Kitteridge. Photo: Sam Sachdeva.
Cabinet had also previously agreed to create a new offence covering international travel to carry out terrorist activity, and an expansion of the existing crime of financing terrorism to include broader forms of material support.

Separately, the Government will strengthen provisions against hate speech through redefining the existing criminal offence of incitement and increasing penalties.

Ardern said the fact that the Government had not yet delivered a detailed response to all of the 44 recommendations, including the establishment of a new security and intelligence agency and the creation of specific hate crime offences, was not a reflection of its view on their merits.

“This is not a comprehensive list: we have balanced here the calls for the community to move quickly and not start with yet another blank sheet of paper, with the calls to also engage on issues where we need to tread carefully in the design and implementation of recommendations.”

“Significant restructures” like the new agency would take some time to work through, while in the case of hate crimes she wanted to work across Parliament to ensure any legislation did not become politicised.

Ardern said she would not shy away from the Royal Commission’s remarks that politicians needed to work harder to develop a social licence for the work of intelligence and counterterrorism agencies, but that could not be done at the expense of minority communities.

“The challenge for us as a nation will be how do we build a greater awareness of the risks that we face, but at the same time, make sure that we do not create an environment where we do not unduly target members of our community in counterterrorism efforts.”

“NZSIS should have done better at explaining our role to the community and listening to their concerns. I know that a number of people have found this upsetting, and to them I apologise.”

Responding to the report, NZ Security Intelligence Service director-general Rebecca Kitteridge apologised to the Muslim community for making them feel as if they were under suspicion when that was not the case.

“NZSIS should have done better at explaining our role to the community and listening to their concerns. I know that a number of people have found this upsetting, and to them I apologise.”

Kitteridge said it was clear the intelligence agencies needed to ensure there was “an appropriate and adequate focus of resources on the range of threats New Zealand faces”, and she would work with others across the national security system to ensure that was the case.

She believed she was the right person to lead the NZSIS response to the report, saying she had worked hard to build a constructive relationship with the Muslim community upon taking the role - although she accepted concerns about a 2016 speech which some said had framed terrorism as a Muslim issue.

The NZ Police, who were found to have had an insufficiently robust firearms licensing system, also offered an apology to the victims of the attack and their families.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police administration of the Arms Act had not always met public expectations, and work was already underway to address the issues which had been identified.

Coster said police were also strengthening their intelligence capabilities - with the degradation of the agency’s role in assessing strategic terrorism threats cited by the Royal Commission - although “full realisation of the programme’s objectives remains contingent on resourcing”.

The Government has also announced it will establish a new NZ Police programme, ‘Te Raranga - the Weave’, to improve the identification, recording and management of hate crimes.

As the Royal Commission had only covered events leading up to March 15, police would release the findings of an internal inquiry into how they responded to the attack itself to help address any unanswered questions the victims’ families and wider community had.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ardern-apologises-promises-change-after-chch-terror-report
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Earlier today, the Pakistan Test squad met with the families of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attack (pics via PCB) <a href="https://t.co/RAOHgvqpio">pic.twitter.com/RAOHgvqpio</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1345326136193122306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


4ebf0d34-8f90-4da8-b0d3-de2cb433a07f.jpg6dedafdd-152a-43c0-b194-2582010026d2.jpg805af01a-3c10-483d-bdc9-d6f70b47e03d.jpg79a2ba06-3344-4e3b-a368-bf2d3b3c330a.jpg5962c8bb-512a-479e-959a-c5e77099c032.jpg
 
Video from PCB

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/rsjblx" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
Pakistan Team visits Christchurch Victims. Comments filled with Indians abusing the team

Really nice gesture from the team. I know a guy who grew up in this community and he said this attack on the mosque absolutely devastated them.

Not surprisingly, comments are filled with Indians abusing the team, Pakistan, and the religion. Stay classy.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Heartwarming gesture by the Pakistan team. Absolutely amazing to see.

Forget the comments - I’m just happy to know they visited the community and the video is so nice to watch too.
 
Dramatic title. I went through the thread and there were mostly Pakistanis happy with the event. A few Indians praising them and another bunch asking them about the temple attack in Pak, why they didn't conduct these events with non-Muslim victims of terror attacks.

lol at filled with Indians abuse.
 
pillionrider said:
Dramatic title. I went through the thread and there were mostly Pakistanis happy with the event. A few Indians praising them and another bunch asking them about the temple attack in Pak, why they didn't conduct these events with non-Muslim victims of terror attacks.

lol at filled with Indians abuse.
Click to expand...

You either need your eyes or brain checked, like seriously. 40 out of first 50 comments are from your fellow RSS online brigade and they are filled with hate and abuse, something we can’t even mention in PP due to language.
 
ahmedzee said:
You either need your eyes or brain checked, like seriously. 40 out of first 50 comments are from your fellow RSS online brigade and they are filled with hate and abuse, something we can’t even mention in PP due to language.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately Chaddi brigade is much more active in twitter than any other social media. May be its their 140 character limit that attracts them as it suits their limited intelligence.
 
ahmedzee said:
You either need your eyes or brain checked, like seriously. 40 out of first 50 comments are from your fellow RSS online brigade and they are filled with hate and abuse, something we can’t even mention in PP due to language.
Click to expand...

Sorry. I woke up and wore my saffron-tinted glasses this morning.

Anyway, since you seem to have more knowledge on these matters from your time spent with *insert Pakistani Muslim equivalent of RSS* buddies, can you point me to any news items when the PCT have spent time with non-Muslim victims of a terror attack. If you can't, time spent in a non-Muslim charity or a disadvantaged/sick children's centre will do for now :)
 
Nobody is even aware of this event. One or two random anonymous comments and posters here start feeling anxious .. tis a strange mentality.
 
pillionrider said:
Sorry. I woke up and wore my saffron-tinted glasses this morning.

Anyway, since you seem to have more knowledge on these matters from your time spent with *insert Pakistani Muslim equivalent of RSS* buddies, can you point me to any news items when the PCT have spent time with non-Muslim victims of a terror attack. If you can't, time spent in a non-Muslim charity or a disadvantaged/sick children's centre will do for now :)
Click to expand...

Wow, seems like your are speaking the RSS language I see on Twitter.
In regards to Pakistan Cricket Team, quite a few victim families who were murdered by the terrorist that shares your RSS ideology, were Pakistanis. Since team is in Christchurch, they did visit these families. So that’s your answer!

Maybe your Indian cricket team should do something similar as some victims were even Indians, when they visit NZ. Wait a minute, your RSS pm would have issues with that.

Also in one of the England tours (this year or last I can’t remember) they did visit sick kids, cancer stricken kids as well).

Now you can go continue showing your Islamophobia on Twitter.
 
Last edited:
Thomaskutty said:
Nobody is even aware of this event. One or two random anonymous comments and posters here start feeling anxious .. tis a strange mentality.
Click to expand...

The Christchurch terrorist massacres Muslims in a mosque. His gun has names of many white supremacist and fascist killers such as Andre Brevik of Norway and the guy in Canada who killed Muslims in a mosque. Come on! Muslims lives matter. Maybe you don’t remember this event, we all do and I am sure people in Christchurch do. Also the comments that your countrymen are posting are in pure hatred. Also it is not “one or two” comments, it’s a whole filthy army of your RSS online brigade. Open your eyes!
 
ahmedzee said:
You either need your eyes or brain checked, like seriously. 40 out of first 50 comments are from your fellow RSS online brigade and they are filled with hate and abuse, something we can’t even mention in PP due to language.
Click to expand...

The only abusive post I saw of the first 50 comments came from a Pakistani. His exact words were "No practice bi*chs....just concentrate on your game" lol

Maybe you follow RSS that's the reason you are seeing those comments at the top ?
 
ahmedzee said:
Wow, seems like your are speaking the RSS language I see on Twitter.
In regards to Pakistan Cricket Team, quite a few victim families who were murdered by the terrorist that shares your RSS ideology, were Pakistanis. Since team is in Christchurch, they did visit these families. So that’s your answer!

Maybe your Indian cricket team should do something similar as some victims were even Indians, when they visit NZ. Wait a minute, your RSS pm would have issues with that.

Also in one of the England tours (this year or last I can’t remember) they did visit sick kids, cancer stricken kids as well).

Now you can go continue showing your Islamophobia on Twitter.
Click to expand...

Good if they did. But I googled and sorry, my saffronized Google India only showed up Pak cricketers visiting hospitals in Pakistan, Indians during the Ganguly tour visiting IK's cancer hospital in Pak and so on. I hope I can take your word for it :)

But in any case, I think you're deliberately missing my point. The title of this thread is dramatic because I'm not sure how asking if someone visited a non-Muslim centre counts as abuse. You should instead educate the ignorant rabble that asks these questions :rabada2
 
The gunman who killed 51 people in the Christchurch mosque attacks has dropped legal challenges over his prison conditions and his status as a "terrorist entity", the New Zealand Herald reported on Friday.

A minute released by Justice Geoffrey Venning showed Brenton Tarrant had withdrawn his application, the newspaper reported. The document was not immediately available from the court.

Read: Christchurch mosque shooter sentenced to life without parole for 'wicked' crimes

White supremacist Tarrant was sentenced last August to jail for life without parole for the murder of 51 people and attempted murder of 40 others at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15, 2019, the worst mass shooting in the country's history.

Tarrant, an Australian national, is the only person in New Zealand to be designated the status of terrorist.

Tarrant had launched the legal challenge last week. He did not appear in the court for the hearing.

Express Tribune
 
They Are Us: Plans for film about Christchurch mosque attacks sparks anger among New Zealanders

Jacinda Ardern expresses unease about plans for a film focusing on her response to the terror attacks in the New Zealand city.

New Zealand's prime minister has distanced herself from plans for a film that would focus on her response to the Christchurch mosque attacks.

US-based FilmNation Entertainment is in the early stages of producing a film called They Are Us - the title is a line from one of Jacinda Ardern's speeches in the days after the attacks.

But the plans have been criticised by many New Zealanders, some unhappy about reports that the film will focus on the prime minister, leaving the victims in the background.

Others have said the 15 March 2019 tragedy is still too raw and that Hollywood should not be able to profit from the suffering of those who are still recovering or grieving.

Ms Ardern told news website Stuff: "While it's for the community to speak for themselves, it's my view 15 March remains very raw for New Zealand.

"There are plenty of stories from 15 March that could be told, but I don't consider mine to be one of them."

She also confirmed she "had nothing to do with the film in any form and wasn't consulted on it".

Fifty-one people were killed when Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant opened fire on worshippers in the two mosques.

He was jailed for life without parole last August for the 51 murders, 40 attempted murders and a charge of terrorism.

But in the days after the attacks, New Zealanders were praised for uniting in compassion for the victims and their community, led by Ms Ardern.

She was also lauded for her successful efforts to ban the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons in the country.

According to Hollywood news outlet Deadline, which broke news of the film, Ms Ardern will be played by Australian actress Rose Byrne.

The film will be made in New Zealand and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Andrew Niccol.

But more than 23,500 people have signed a petition calling for the movie to be abandoned and the hashtag #TheyAreUsShutdown was trending on Twitter in New Zealand on Friday.

Omar Nabi speaks to the media about losing his father Haji Daoud in the mosque attacks, at the district court in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 16, 2019

Those behind the petition said the film's focus on white voices "will continue to white-wash the horrific violence perpetrated against Muslim communities".

Niccol "has not experienced racism or Islamophobia" so he should not "lead and profit" from a "story that is not his to tell", they added.

Deadline reported that the film's script was developed in consultation with several members of the mosques who were affected by the tragedy but this has been disputed by members of New Zealand's Muslim community.

Sondos Qur'aan, co-chair of the National Islamic Youth Association, said the movie "is insensitive and would only serve to invalidate the experiences of survivors and victims of the attack and cannot be supported by our organisation".

Fellow co-chair Haris Murtaza added: "The shuhadaa' (martyrs), their families, and the wider victim community deserve to be thoroughly consulted and at the heart of any projects that relate to the 15 March terror attacks.

"Entities and individuals should not seek to commercialise or profit from a tragedy that befell our community, neither should such an atrocity be sensationalised."

Mohamed Hassan, who hosts podcast The Guest House, which explored how Muslims made sense of the attacks, told Radio NZ: "In its essence, (the film) is a story about an act of white supremacy that is centred around white voices, white feelings and white heroism. The irony is nauseating. The lack of self-awareness is profound."

Sky News sought comment from FilmNation early on Saturday but Niccol earlier told Deadline: "They Are Us is not so much about the attack but the response to the attack [and] how an unprecedented act of hate was overcome by an outpouring of love and support.

"The film addresses our common humanity, which is why I think it will speak to people around the world. It is an example of how we should respond when there's an attack on our fellow human beings."

https://news.sky.com/story/they-are-us-plans-for-film-about-christchurch-mosque-attacks-sparks-anger-among-new-zealanders-12330668?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
 
The Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch in 2019 has appealed against his convictions and sentence of life in prison without parole.

Brenton Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and a terrorism charge. His change of plea averted the need for a trial that officials feared he would use to spread his extremist views.

Now aged 32, Tarrant in August 2020 became the first person in New Zealand under current laws to be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of ever walking free.

New Zealand’s court of appeal confirmed to the Guardian on Tuesday that Tarrant had filed an appeal for both his convictions and his sentence. The court will first consider whether the appeal can proceed because it was filed outside the legislated time frame to do so.

The grounds for appeal are not known, and a hearing date has not been set. Tarrant’s lawyer has been approached for comment.

The Australian moved to New Zealand in 2017 with a view to carrying out a white supremacist attack. He planned the mass shooting for months, conducted reconnaissance at the mosques, distributed a manifesto expressing his racist views before he opened fire, and live-streamed part of the assault on Facebook.

He initially said he would defend the charges he faced but changed his plea on all counts to guilty a year after the attacks. He did not speak in court during the sentencing for his crimes in August 2020.

Tarrant’s lawyer has been approached for comment.

Temel Ataçocuğu, who survived being shot with nine bullets in the attack, said he was “just so disappointed” that the terrorist had appealed, and called for tighter restrictions on how those convicted of terrorist acts could use the justice system to communicate their views.

“He’s trying to keep his name in the media and keep spreading his ideologies,” Ataçocuğu said. “I think he wants to upset people and doesn’t want to be forgotten in jail.”

Aya al-Umari, whose brother Hussein al-Umari was murdered at Masjid al-Noor, the first the terrorist struck, told the Guardian that she believed justice would take its course.

“All I want is to get answers for my brother and a system that prevents such attack from happening again,” she said.

An independent inquiry produced an 800-page report into the attacks in December 2020, concluding that the terror plot could not have been detected by New Zealand’s government agencies “except by chance.”

It detailed at length how Tarrant was radicalised online and legally amassed a cache of semiautomatic weapons before the shooting – prompting sweeping changes to New Zealand’s gun laws.

A coronial inquiry is currently under way into the 51 deaths with a public inquest due to begin next May.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-against-convictions-life-term-without-parole
 
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