all sorts of multiple things involved in this incident as well and police will be giving more dates house as they can is the situation unfolds whilst i cannot give any confirmation at this stage around televisa casualties what i can say is that it is clear that this is one of new zealand's dock days. clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented ect of violence and many of those who will have been directly affected by this shooting may be migrants to new zealand they may even be very few genes here they have chosen to make new zealand their home and it is their home that i are us the person who has good pitch right at this violence against us it's not they have no place in new zealand there is no place in new zealand for such acts of extreme and

unprecedented violence which is it is clear it was for now my thoughts and i'm sure the thoughts of all new zealand is with those who have thing affected and also with the families my thoughts also took those in christchurch still dealing with an unfolding situation the advice from place continues to be that people remain and knowledge that they may remain that some families a separated but please continue to listen out for information as it comes to light that's been directly provided by the new zealand place with food information but as i say they plays for a mine in lockdown we are potentially still dealing with an evolving situation and again as i say across multiple sites please be assured though the police. ective leigh managing the situation christchurch hospital is dedicated to. treating those

who are arriving at the hospital as we speak well as soon as i leave here i will be returning directly on the i can your flight to wellington i didn't see so already convening in wellington i'll be looking to meet with them as soon as i land it's my expectation that once i arrive and have been briefed by team and to speak it came publicly after that point i'm happy to take questions. i look at sony a matter of a few hours ago of course that i was. advised of the situation and that it was an evolving situation again public reporting took place not too long after it been speakin unfolding but as to the precise state house at this stage our white until i have a bit more of precision from a briefing directly from the place when i arrive in wellington.

at the moment the police although they have stated that they have one offender in custody they have advised that he might be other if in does they are dealing with multiple sayings as well so i can't confirm that. you know i'm i'm not currently in a position to confirm the number of deaths or injuries but i have to acknowledge people can see images like from christchurch it will be obvious to the him that this is a significant event and i can tell you now this. will be one of new zealand's doc. i'm not in a position to give those details at this stage police as i say have a prohibited someone they are in custody as we speak but i'm simply not in

a position to give dates house around that individual that suspect to hand. again i'm not in a position to give any food the detail about the individual that is currently in police custody. at this stage the police continuing to advise those who are in the area to remain indoors stay have said that they could be dealing with other offended states why they of course are taking the approach of ensuring people's safety and so until people hear otherwise i ask that they listen to the advice i've been given directly by the new zealand place. i would describe it as an unprecedented ect of violence and acts that has absolutely no place in new zealand this is not who we are.

well certainly it has occurred in apply sweep people should have been expressing their religious freedom where they should have being in a safe environment and they have not been today there is no place in new zealand for such extreme x. of unprecedented violence the people who were. the subject of this attack today new zealand is the home they should be safe here the person who has pictured at this violent acts against them they have no place in new zealand society any other questions i'm quite keen to get to wellington now so if you'll excuse me i'm very happy to update you again once i've meet with agencies upon my landing thank you. new zealand's prime minister just in our turn making her first statement her first reaction after the shootings in christchurch this morning shootings at least two mosques in christchurch which have left

a number of people dead and injured no numbers yet no confirmed numbers yet of the casualties but the prime minister describing this as one of new zealand's darkest days an unprecedented violent she called it she told us that they had been multiple scenes involved no new information however around the fate tally tease or casualties she said that police would be updating the public later about this but again calling on people to heed police is advice and remaining indoors remain on lockdown because she says they are dealing with any devolving situation at multiple sides so this is on from over at least two shootings in christchurch on the south island in new zealand this friday during friday prayers so they were being a lot of people inside those mosques. they has been reports they have been reports rather earlier that the shooter. had been wearing a helmet with

a camera and was lies streaming the shooting inside the first mosque. nor mosque in central christchurch where that information has now been confirmed as the shooter wearing a camera and was live streaming the shooting at one forty pm he entered the. mosque and started shooting the worshipers who were gathered there for friday prayers local media reporting that some people some witnesses who were there said they saw a lot of bodies on the ground but police have yet to confirm the numbers yet of dead or injured the hospital in christchurch is on lockdown ambulances have been busing the injured to the hospital we are looking at the latest pictures we're getting there we heard from the prime minister who has confirmed that they are multiple sites involved so this is far from over we don't have any numbers yet but

again as she said we are dealing here with an unprecedented act of violence in new zealand this is not the type of story that we hear not the type of incidents that we hear from new zealand so quite a very dark day as the prime minister described it today and police again advising people to remain indoors because this is far from over now earlier we heard from a witness who described what happened inside one of the mosques less take a listen. to what happened. because the mosque. and i just heard one of the ladies are dard are hoping that the. suddenly the shortest shooting started so it started in the main room. the shooter must have

come through the hallway and i was in the side room so i did not see who was shooting but. so there some people were running out through my. through my room where i was in and also ice of some people had blood on the body in some people who were limping a dead woman you know i realized that it was really serious and you know a couple of people say to me that you were on who she could to get out now so i tried to get out in. pushed myself the big where my car was parked in i was behind the car and then from there. hearing the shooting of the shooting of the shooting it went on. six minute or more in. i could hear screaming in the crying and.

some people you know drop dead. that was one of the witnesses who was inside the. mosque in central church of christ church when it was targeted earlier today friday during friday prayers he as you heard there talked about a gunman entering the mosque and starting to shoot people the second mosque which was targeted because as we've heard from the prime minister of new zealand just a short while ago there are multiple sides that have been targeted this is an ongoing situation an active shooter situation the second mosque that was targeted was the lin wood mosque no information as far as we have right to know right now as to what happened exactly fair them more details about the first incident of the newer mosque which is. which was a actually the first a mosque in christchurch it was built in one thousand nine hundred eighty five the

shooting happening at the height of friday prayers so there were lots of people hundreds some people say inside the mosque when the shooter entered it he entered it at one forty pm was wearing a helmet that had a camera on it and was live streaming the incident he opened fire and police responded afterwards to more gun shots that were fired at other locations across the city new zealand's prime minister just. describing this earlier as one of the darkest days of new zealand's history. mike bush as he has advised he will be updating the media and public on the savoring situation at five pm till late time he has given details of the situation at hand personally the police do have one suspect in custody however the could be others

involved. all sorry there are multiple scenes involved in this incident as well and police will be giving more details as they can is the situation unfolds whilst i cannot give any confirmation at this stage around fatalities in casual teas what i can say is that it is clear that this is one of new zealand's darkest days. clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented ect of violence many of those who were being directly affected by the shooting may be migrants to new zealand they may even be refugees here they have chosen to make new zealand their home and it is their home they are us the person who has put a picture i did this violence against us is not they have no place in new zealand

there is no place in new zealand for such acts of extreme and unprecedented violence which is it is clear towards for now my thoughts and i'm sure the thoughts of all new zealanders with those who have being affected and also with the families my thoughts also to those in christchurch who are still dealing with an unfolding situation the advice from police continues to be that people remain indoors i had knowledge that they may mean that some families are separated but please continue to listen out for information. is it comes to light that's been directly provided by the new zealand place with information but as i say they please remain in lockdown we are for th really still dealing with an evolving situation and again as i say across multiple sites please be assured that the police actively managing the situation christchurch hospital is dedicated

to treating those who are arriving at the hospital as we speak as well as soon as i leave here i will be returning directly on a commuter flight to wellington agencies are already convening in wellington i'll be looking to meet with them as soon as i land it's my expectation that once i arrive and have been briefed i intend to speak again publicly after that point i'm happy to take questions. i look at a matter of a few hours ago of course that i was. advised of the situation and that it was an evolving situation in public reporting took place not too long after it been speakin unfolding but as to the precise details at this stage our white until i have a bit more of precision from a briefing directly from the place when i arrive in wellington.

at the moment the police. have stated that they have one offender in custody they have advised to be maybe other offenders they are dealing with multiple scenes as well so i can confirm that. all injuries. that i know i'm i'm not currently in a position to confirm. the number of deaths or injuries but i have to acknowledge people can see images life from christchurch it will be obvious to be in that this is a significant event and i can tell you now this. will be one of new zealand's darkest days. what do we know about anything is there any confirmation around age or even nationality i'm not in a position to give those details at this stage police as i say i. did someone they

are in custody as we speak but i'm simply not in a position to give details around their individual suspect at hand and. again i'm not in a position to give any further detail about the individual that is currently in police custody. there is a potential for other suspects still out there this stage the police continuing to advise those who are in the area to remain indoors stay have said that they could be dealing with other offenders states why they of course are taking the approach of ensuring people safety. people here otherwise i ask that they listen to the advice i've been given directly by the new zealand police the nature of the crime would you describe it as a hate crime i would describe it as an unprecedented ect of violence that has absolutely no place in new zealand this is not who we are able to expand on why any reason as to why it is there any indication around that all certainly it

didn't apply sweet people should have been expressing their religious freedom where they should have being in a safe environment and they have not been today there is no place in new zealand for such extreme presidium to violence the people who were. the subject of this attack today new zealand is the home they should be safe here the person who has pictured of the violent acts against them they have no place in new zealand society any other questions i'm quite king to get to wellington now so if you'll excuse me i'm very happy to update you again once i meet with agencies upon my landing thank you. that was the prime minister of new zealand speaking just a few minutes ago these two incidents that two mosques in christ church on the southern island just into our day in describing them as one of new zealand's

darkest days after multiple fatalities at two mosques if you're joining us on al-jazeera this is a breaking news story that we've been covering for the past hour and a half now it's coming up to four thirty pm in new zealand three thirty am g.m.t. and if you're joining us just a quick recap of what we know happened so to winston's the first one at the. mosque in central christchurch at about one forty pm local time so three and a half hours ago there are reports that a gunman wearing a helmet that had a camera on it entered the the mosque and sided shooting worshipers who were gathered there during friday prayers one witness telling our area that they were hundreds of people inside the mosque at the time police have not provided any numbers yet no numbers on the fatalities or the injuries to the first since

event at the. nor mosque then about an hour later there was a second shooting a reported this time at the lynwood mosque again in this case no numbers no casualties in that second incident the prime minister of new zealand made a statement at four pm local time about a half an hour ago describing these two incidents as. the darkest moment in new zealand's history an unprecedented act of violence he said that has no place in new zealand this is not who we are said to us in the r.v. now authorities are dealing we understand with an active situation still because they are reports of other sites being targeted the prime minister confirming that just moments ago saying that the police were dealing with multiple sites multiple

incidents we've heard so far of one gunmen but they could be more out there and the authorities are asking people in christchurch to stay indoors schools are on lockdown police telling people to stay indoors families have been separated because of these incidents but again the prime minister urging the people to heed the police costs and stay indoors the hospital in christchurch which you're looking at where the pictures that we have from the christchurch hospital also on lockdown we understand and doctors there reportedly dealing with several injuries now earlier eyewitness described what happened inside one of the mosques this was the first mosque which was targeted the much this nor mosque in central christchurch less listen to what he saw and what he heard during the incident can you tell us what you've been hearing he while you're waiting at the cordon on dean's avenue. i

don't know a way feels she was in the ladies room. after the shooting to go in there to see where there was a reason. not. to quickly get a real. i.d. so were you inside the mosque at the time of the shooting where were you the subsequent. i was inside the mosque. i was in the side room. and. started the salmon. everybody was. it was very peaceful calm and quiet. as usually is when starts talking everyone is quiet and it is a pin drop silence but then suddenly the shortest shooting started so it started in the main room. the shooter must have come through the hallway and i was in the

side room so i did not see who was shooting but. so there some people were running out through my. through my room where i was in and also ice of some people had blood on the body in some people who were limping a dead woman you know i realized that it was really serious and you know a couple of people say to me that you were on who she could to get out so i tried to get out and. pushed myself the big where my car was parked in i was there behind the car and then from there i was hearing there to a shooting after a shooting of the shooting it went on. six minute or more in. i could hear screaming and crying and.

some people you know drop dead. some people were running away i was in the room. could not go in also i didn't want to because i was afraid what was going to happen to the ladies what was going to be going to a wife so i stayed there were like really short he did his message inside the mosque in. apologies eyewitness talking to us earlier about the incident at that mosque in a christ church and police in new zealand now telling people who are thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in new zealand to stay put and close their doors so we are dealing with a very serious situation here police responding to reports of a mass shooting at a mosque in christchurch new zealand on the island during friday prayers and there

was a second incident at another mosque in christchurch let's speak to sam crock now who is a journalist based in christchurch he joins us now on the line sam just bring us up to speed with what we know happened so far. stu very much a developing situation here as you've just heard from that eyewitness many people have their own story of what happened in that mosque but the similarities seem to be that of a gunman entered that main mosque with about four to five hundred people praying and firing what's believed to be an automatic weapon which is illegal here in new zealand into the crowd the people who fled from that building from something out windows it's believed the gunshots went for around fifteen minutes even more of those those people fleeing calling the police they could hear the gunshots one off to the other it does sound like really people injured some as young as sixteen but

that is believe that there are very young children who were in that mosque at the time and praying we knelt down by question which is mine hospital we believe the injured have been taken to this hospital and many others in the city and you can understand there are a lot of people waiting outside calling relentlessly trying to get in touch with with family members and friends who were inside that mosque really tragic situation we heard that the gunman appeared to have live streamed video of the attack at the first mosque at the much needed on newer mosque because he was wearing reportedly a helmet with a camera on top of it and live streamed the attack and even left a racist man a fast money fast so what more you hearing about this what more do we know about the gunman. if it was not possible now it to an hour after the incident that footage the popping up online being shared on facebook and on you tube as you

mentioned it doesn't appear to show a live stream or something close to it of the shooting with that minutes that we do understand one person is now in custody but with multiple attacks happening around the city it's not known if all of the gunmen have been trying to time the there has been as you mentioned some worrying disgusted amenophis still of sorts attached to that video to police and journalists here looking into that. but it is certainly worrying this is not something that happened in new zealand overwhelmingly what i've had talking to eyewitnesses in people on the street is we thought this country was saif and that we've been touched one of the same terrorism that's pretty odd that this is not something that happens in new zealand as he said and that is that is exactly what we heard from the prime minister who spoke a short while ago describing this as the daucus moment in using and history tell us

about the muslim community in christchurch way you are how big of a community is and you know what has been their reaction. it is relatively small compared to a lot of places in the world but the main precision was to pull to five hundred people it's city of around three hundred thousand that's a large percentage so i mean there are quite a few people in that most crucially affected by an attack like this but what i can tell you in speaking to both muslim and other members of the community everyone is feeling this to an equal degree. bookies zealander's and more simply because the community are saying this is something to fix us so we thought we was like the second incident fam is said to have happened at lynnwood mosque what more do we know about the situation men to the minute since you don't focus on the mine most

can tell good news still knowing about the deliberate attack doing over the muslim but that the gunman the police haven't had that gunman in custody so we do believe that it's still an active scene that we haven't had the video out of the in the same way that we have from the might mosque in the streets or of town so that one is very much helping the other one seems to have come down at least for now this is looking like a coordinated really event a coordinated attack on mosques in christchurch but also police now warning. people who are thinking of going to any mosque at any time across new zealand today to stay put and kill said oh is so clearly we are dealing here with a very very serious situation. it is quite frankly be a critic of it's actually. being described perhaps with an automatic weapon. all. so if you are. taking precautions and

want people to stay away from us around the country we don't know. what is triggered by the tech don't know just how it could make it what else could be following that would be the reason we have lots of them off throughout the country thank you so much sam for joining us sam clark is a journalist in christchurch is describing to us and bringing us up to speed with the latest in christchurch a breaking news situation that we're dealing with here on al-jazeera this morning on this friday morning for serve at least two shootings at two mosques in christchurch with several casualties several fatalities no exact numbers yet but this is an unprecedented situation in new zealand as we've heard this police is what this is what we know police have confirmed that a number of fatalities happened have occurred after shootings in two mosques one

person is in custody but they may be more on the loose also witnesses have described seeing a man dressed in black entering the much newer mosque in central christchurch where the first attack happened this was new zealand christchurch his first mosque which was built in one thousand nine hundred five dozens of shots were heard and people ran out in terror now speaking a short while ago new zealand's prime minister just cinda and said this is one of her country's daucus days. here is new zealand's police commissioner now mike bush who made a statement a short while ago. we have my own laws to police resource in the cannery region to respond to this. and we will also in the process is to mobilize and give every

national police resource to keep people safe but i also want to ask you to stay indoors if you're in the location and i want to ask anyone that was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in new zealand. not to go to closure rules and so you hear from us again we will be providing holidays very really into the situation as i see it before it continues to evolve we want to make sure you have all the information you need to be hearing from us through sort for me all mainstream or you will be hearing from me in the very near future let's bring in laura tuple now who is a journalist that. bring us up to speed with the latest are we still dealing with an active situation. and. i do believe the people. who die when it's really. really

believed although there are some reports in my. book. at least different long. ball they did say that. one. way to. get on the ground. if you just. sort of get a hold of. both are saying. the government of. india works for. everyone and. a little. corner.

nor are the police telling people everywhere in new zealand not to go to mosques today do we know if there are other situations elsewhere other than christchurch they're not reported any. progress. report. tell us about the reactions because as we've heard from the prime minister this is really an unprecedented situation in new zealand this is not the type of story that comes out of new zealand what are people saying how are people dealing with this tragedy. just completely on rely. on.