welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: police in new zealand say they're responding to a shooting at a mosque in christchurch — there are reports of multiple casualties. i could hear screaming and crying andi i could hear screaming and crying and i saw some people, you know, drop dead. lots of international news around, of course, but we need to bring you this breaking news first. police in the city of christchurch in new zealand say they are

responding to reports of gunshots at a mosque. possibly at more than one mosque. police have warned of a "serious and evolving situation with an active shooter." there are suggestions there may be more than one shooter. canterbury police issued a statement that armed officers have been deployed in central christchurch on friday after reports that several shots had been fired. they've asked people in the centre of the city to stay indoors, and all schools in the city have been placed into lockdown. it's just after ii:00pm local time. let's speak to our correspondent hywel griffith. are you getting any more on this, as ever with these situations it is clearly a n ever with these situations it is clearly an ugly situation, but there are all sorts of conflicting reports. can you confirm? what we do know is that, well, almost two hours ago now, a gunman walked into the masjid al noor mosque in central christchurch, where about 300 people we re christchurch, where about 300 people were gathered for friday prayers, and opened fire. we understand from eyewitnesses that a semiautomatic weapon was firing, we believe

forever ten minutes, walking from room to room. —— for over ten minutes. some people have come out and spoken to reporters at the ground, speaking of horrible scenes, bloodshed, people cowering, dozens of people seriously injured, and potentially fatalities. we simply do not have any numbers yet or any sense of scale as to how many people have been injured. tragically it does seem very likely at this stage that people have been seriously, if not fatally, injured. there are unconfirmed reports of a shooting at a second mosque, creating reports of a second mosque, creating reports of a —— possibilities of a second shooter. we do not know if this person was working alone or if there isa person was working alone or if there is a second person involved, but that will be what police are doing now, dealing with this dynamic situation and working out if there isa situation and working out if there is a second person involved. in the last ten or 20 minutes we have heard reports of some kind of right—wing ma nifesto reports of some kind of right—wing manifesto being published online by an individual purporting to be the

shooter. we certainly cannot verify that at the moment, but it does in some detail talk about a philosophy of right—wing racism, which is anti— islam, anti—muslim is within new zealand, and globally as well. —— anti—muslims. that may potentially help the police work out what is happening and what may be ahead of them. but for now, parts of the city are on lockdown. that includes hospitals, schools and council buildings. a blunt warning from police is for people to stay off the streets. i suppose the crucial question is, is this still an active situation? are there still people with guns, who are not the police, who police are hunting, on the loose? we have seen some footage, it is mobile phone footage and we cannot verify it at the moment, of what looks to be like the police apprehending an individual in the street, armed police walking along the street and a person being taken down, i suppose you would say. we do

not know yet whether or not that is the police apprehending one person, a shooter, another person, maybe somebody unrelated. all that tells us somebody unrelated. all that tells us is that the police presence that their readers in christchurch at the moment, the nervousness that there is. we may learn more shortly, we expect prime ministerjacinda ardern to speak. she has been briefed over the past hour were also as part of an emergency cabinet meeting. she is not in christchurch but she will wa nt to not in christchurch but she will want to be told exactly what is happening and she will be giving a message to the nation to bring them up message to the nation to bring them up to date, and to try to reassure people the authorities are doing everything possible to bring this to an end. a lot of people first picked up an end. a lot of people first picked up on this with this tweet from a reporter following the bangladesh cricket team who were in the mosque, and he tweeted that they had just escaped from a mosque and there was possibly active shooter is in there. we should stress, i suppose, it is people will be interested, the team are entirely safe? —— because

people. as far as we know, those members of the team who were in christchurch, in order to play new zealand, they were able to walk out safe and well. we have also heard from other people who have come out who are safe and well. sadly talking about horrific scenes and concern about horrific scenes and concern about family members. 0ne gentle man who was interviewed by a new zealand journalist was talking about that process of the gunman walking around for ten minutes, and when this individual felt it was safe to leave, he left, at his brother was left inside and he simply does not know what has happened to his brother. —— but his. it is a confusing picture at the moment, as these things often are. what we will look to next year ‘s messages from the police about whether they have apprehended a gunman, whether they believe there is more than one, and whether the threat is over. —— look to next year ‘s messages.

ricky cambridge is in christchurch. thank you for coming through to us, i know this is a difficult time. you are in lockdown in your apartment very close to the shooting? yeah, i am in my office building. i wasjust out having lunch and i started to walk back towards the office and i saw a number of police cars and ambulances going in multiple directions. walking along hagley park to get back to my desk. it was lots of confusion, we were not really sure at all what was going on. checking up on the local news sites to see what is going on and what came through, the more that came through the crazier it seemed to become. we are all currently locked down in the office and waiting to hear more. while you are in the street walking back from lunch we're told by police to get off the street and get into hiding? —— were you told. off the street and get into hiding? -- were you told. not at that point. they were moving at high speed, through lots of traffic. all the

lunchtime traffic. they were setting up lunchtime traffic. they were setting up they cordon and stuff, i believe. it was probably about 1:55, so probably about ten or 15 minutes, as far as probably about ten or 15 minutes, as farasi probably about ten or 15 minutes, as faras i am probably about ten or 15 minutes, as far as i am aware, after the incident started happening. it was not right where i was. i couldn't see any police officers around but there were lots of police cars. what was your impression about how the police were responding? how do you feel like new zealand is set up to deal with a situation like this?” don't know, that is a hard one to answer. the reports we are getting from the local news is that the protocols are under way at the hospital and that they have cleared the emergency room. it is hard to tell, standing on the street, when you are seen tell, standing on the street, when you are seen police cars with sirens going in both directions, exactly what the plan is. i suppose it is a

ha rd what the plan is. i suppose it is a hard situation, being right on hagley park. i couldn't really see enough to make any real comment on it. sure, that is understood. from what you are hearing locally is it your impression that this is still very much an active situation, that there are still people with guns shooting? i wouldn't imagine there has been any shooting happening currently. that is purely speculation. i don't really know, there are some photos that i have seen on there are some photos that i have seen on the news websites that they have caught people. we haven't heard anything more about the lockdown, about whether we are free to move or not. as far as we are aware there may still be people out there. i do not know if there is any active shooting still going on. as our correspondent was just saying now, there seems to have been a

right—wing manifesto posted online, possibly with camera footage from the shooter of the incident while it was going on, which obviously we are not going to use. can you give us a better description, for people who do not know the area at all, of that area of christchurch? it is very central christchurch. it is right on hagley park, which directly borders the cbd, and the hospital is right in the middle between the park and the cbd. the mosque is on the other side of the park. there is residential further away from that. it isa residential further away from that. it is a very central area, there is lots of foot and vehicle traffic. i am in an office building one block away, actually. yeah, i don't know what more to say about that. there are what more to say about that. there a re lots of what more to say about that. there are lots ofjoggers at lunchtime that would go for a run around the park. we have heard reports that

another mosque had been evacuated. there was no confirmation at all that there was another shooter involved. have you heard any more about that? only what i have read on the news, another one of the local news websites, they had a comment from somebody, saying they had armed police squad members coming through the building. the impression i got from that, though that is some time ago, that they were still looking to somebody. at i am not sure. riki, thank you very much, we appreciate that. a very difficult time. stay safe. a senior member of the mosque was in the building at the time of the attack. sorry, let's get

straight to the prime minister, jacinda ardern. straight to the prime minister, jacinda ardern. on this involving situation at 5pm. until that time, he has given details of the situation at hand. hesitantly, the situation at hand. hesitantly, the police do have one suspect in custody. however, there could be others involved. —— presently, the police. also, there are multiple scenes involved in this incident as well. police will be giving more details as they can, as the situation unfolds. while i cannot give any confirmation at this stage around fatalities and casualties, what i can say is that it is clear this is one of new zealand's darkest days. clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence. many

of those who will have been directly affected by this 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. home, and it is their home. they are us. the person who has perpetuated 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 it is clear this act was. for now, my thoughts, and i am sure the thoughts of all new zealanders, i would those who have been affected, and also with theirfamilies. who have been affected, and also with their families. —— who have been affected, and also with theirfamilies. —— are who have been affected, and also with their families. —— are with those. my thoughts are also with those. my thoughts are also with those in christchurch were still dealing with an unfolding situation. the advice from police continues to be that people remain indoors. i acknowledge that must mean some families are separated, but please

continue to listen out for information that comes to light which is being directly provided by the new zealand police, with further information. as i say, please remain in lockdown. we are potentially still dealing with an evolving situation, and again, as i say, that is across multiple sites. please be assured the police are 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 hospital as we speak as well. as soon as i leave here i will be returning directly to wellington. agencies are already convening in wellington. i will be looking to meet with them as soon as i land. it is my expectation that once i arrive andi is my expectation that once i arrive and i have been briefed, i intend to speak again publicly after that point. iam happy speak again publicly after that point. i am happy to take questions. (inaudible question). it is only 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 to face not too long after events began unfolding. —— took place not too long. as to precisely tells, at this stage i will wait until i have more precision from a briefing directly from police on a get to wellington. —— when i get to wellington. (inaudible question). at the moment, the police, although they have stated they have one offender in custody, they have advised there may be other offenders. they are dealing with multiple scenes as well, i can confirm that. inaudible. .. multiple scenes as well, i can confirm that. inaudible... deaths or injuries, but what more can you tell us? i am not currently in a position to confirm the number of deaths or injuries, that i have to acknowledge, people can see images

live from christchurch. it will be obvious this is a significant event andi obvious this is a significant event and i can tell you now, this is and will be one of new zealand's darkest days. what do we know about the offender, if anything? days. what do we know about the offender, ifanything? is days. what do we know about the offender, if anything? is there any confirmation about age, ethnicity or nationality? i am not in a position to give those details at this stage. police, as i say, have apprehended somebody, and that person is in custody as we speak. i am not in a position to give details about that individual, that suspect that hand. (inaudible question). again, iam again, i am not in a position to give any further information about the individual that is currently in custody. inaudible. at this stage the police are continuing to advise those who are

in the area to remain indoors. they have said they could be dealing with other offenders. that is why they are, of course, ensuring the approach of ensuring voluble does make people's safety. would you describe this as a hate crime?” would describe it as an unprecedented act of violence. an act that has absolutely no place in new zealand. this is not who we are. did they give any reason as to why. .. inaudible. well, certainly, it has occurred in a place where people should have been expressing their religious freedom. where they should have been ina freedom. where they should have been in a safe environment. there is no place in new zealand for extreme a cts place in new zealand for extreme acts of unprecedented violence. the people who were the subject of this attack today, new zealand is their home. they should be safe stop the person who has perpetuated this violent act against them, they have no place in new zealand society. any

other questions? i am quite keen to get to wellington now, so if you will excuse me i am happy to update you again once i have met with agencies upon my landing. thank you. the new zealand prime minister there, jacinda ardern. as you probably gathered. let us update you on what she has been saying. she is talking of unsuspecting custody. she says there could be others involved. she is talking of multiple scenes. police have confirmed a number of scenes and a number of fatalities. they have not gone into more detail on that at the moment. jacinda ardern said it is one of new zealand's darkest days. she talked ofan zealand's darkest days. she talked of an extraordinary act of violence. she said many of those targeted may be migrants or refugees, they have chosen to make their home here, they are asked. she said the people who

have carried out this attack are not us, they have no place in new zealand society. she reiterated the advice from police that people should remain indoors, even if that means at the moment families are temporary separated. she said people should remain in mosques if that is where they are, people in schools should stay there, they are in lockdown, even if that means that people are separated from their friends and loved ones. the prime minister talked about an evolving situation across multiple sites will stop just to situation across multiple sites will stopjust to bring situation across multiple sites will stop just to bring you up—to—date on what we have that seems to be confirmed at the moment. the new zealand city of christchurch in lockdown as police search, possibly, for more armed gunmen. 0ne, we know, open fire in a mosque. eyewitnesses say dozens of people were injured. there are unconfirmed reports, we cannot confirm them either, i've a second shooting in the city. we know police went to another mosque and shut it down. first reports of gunfire came in this afternoon, local time, from the masjid al noor mosque. about 300 people gathered

there for friday press. eyewitnesses described seeing a man in a military style jacket, bullet—proof vest, helmet, and walk in an open fire with an automatic weapon. moving from room to room for more than ten minutes. it is for dozens of people have been seriously injured. a second mosque in the city has been evacuated. 0ne suspects, we understand, is confirmed in custody. police are concerned another shooter may be active. i think we can go to auckland and anna burns francis. thank you for talking to us. what can you tell us? well, mike, absolutely. the situation is unfolding. more details into becoming and by the minute. we have reports now that one of the, believed to be, one of the gunmen in custody. we have a witness who tells the news that he had a gun beside him when he was arrested. police have said there is believed to be a number of other offenders they are looking for in this attack. that

could be at least one other gunmen they are looking for. do you have any updated figures on casualties? first reports that we have are from the masjid al noor, there were between five and six people who had been killed in that attack. dozens and dozens more injured. and then of course there was another attacked at the linwood mosque. we have reports of one gunman going into that mosque, he went in with a gun, actively shooting at that point. some of our witnesses have told one news that they saw another five or six bodies in the mosque after that attack as well. christchurch hospital has had dozens of people arriving by ambulance with injuries from those attacks. no question that there were at least two attacks? absolutely is. there were two attacks. 0ur witnesses told one news

that after the attack at linwood avenue, he saw the gunman gets into a base subaru legacy. from there we have had reports from police that they have found the same coloured car, believed to be the same vehicle, with a bomb inside. that would indicate a third scene that is now under investigation. we have unconfirmed reports at christchurch hospital, an incident there, that is in the area put into lockdown. that is clearly where most of the casualties are going, christchurch hospital, but do you mean another shooting incident? the incident at the al noor mosque is only four minutes or so away from christchurch hospital. 0n different sides of the park. they are a close distance away from each other. and we did have u nrest from each other. and we did have unrest confirmed reports of some witnesses saying they heard shots at christchurch hospital. there are armed police at the hospital, the spittle is in lockdown. it has

activated its emergency crisis plan. what is your impression, you and your colleagues, about how prepared authorities in new zealand were for such an attack as this? well, certainly, i think this has taken everybody by shock and surprise. new zealand, i think, everybody by shock and surprise. new zealand, ithink, your everybody by shock and surprise. new zealand, i think, your impression and our impression is that citizens living in this country, this is nothing we ever would have imagined seeing. we have all looked on in horror when we have seen and heard these attacks overseas and this was nothing we ever thought would be coming to new zealand's shiells. the prime minister has said it is an unprecedented case of extreme violence. that people who come to new zealand and pray in these mosques are often refugees, they are often new new zealanders and they come here for a life of peace and tranquillity and to be under attack on such a beautiful sunshine clear afternoon, a pleasant, warm, lovely city to get around, to be under attack like this and for such a

developing situation, so much uncertainty, so many scared people in the city, no—one knowing what is happening and where this is going. it is very nerve—racking for people in christchurch and the wider country. for anyone who does not know the country well, can you tell us know the country well, can you tell us about new zealand's gun laws? well, we have reasonably strict gun laws. we don't have a gun carrying culture in new zealand. you do need to be licensed to have particular types of guns. we don't sell semiautomatic weapons openly as you see in other countries like the united states. guns are used in rural areas for hunting and trapping, that sort of thing, but otherwise, certainly there is no open carry. you just wouldn't see anybody with a gun around here. there is a video of this attack that has been released on the internet by, we believe, the gunman, it is a shocking footage. i don't believe there would be anyone who would broadcast this or share this any further. but it does show that this is an incident that has taken quite

a lot of planning and preparation to get around some fairly strict gun laws in this country. we have just been speaking to somebody in christchurch, locked in their offers, the school was in lockdown with lots of areas in lockdown, there will be people who can't get to their loved ones or their families, there must be parents desperate to pick up their kids. well, this was across the country climate change riley day, where children across the country declared they would protest climate change today, there were multiple areas around the country where children we re around the country where children were protesting and out of rallying in public spaces. christchurch itself is in lockdown. cathedral square whether protest has been hell has been cleared. schools are in lockdown. public spaces, the art gallery, police are telling us they are asking all mosques around new zealand to shut their doors, to stay locked, and for people to stay away from visiting them until the situation is under control. in your

experience, would there have been armed squads of police ready to act at almost no notice? we do have an armed offender squad, they are tactical police squad, and we see them responding to incidences where we have had one of hostages or firearm incidences in the past. certainly they would have been trained for a response like this. there has never been an incident like this that they would have practically had to respond to. we area practically had to respond to. we are a country of volcanoes and mountains and rivers, natural disasters, we have earthquakes. and certainly christchurch has seen enough of that in recent memory. but nothing like this. and you can tell from the witnesses we have spoken to today that nobody was prepared for an incident such as this. just to recap for people trying to catch up, my understanding is at the moment police are talking about an evolving situation across multiple sites, police confirming a number of fidelity ‘s, one suspect in custody, but multiple scenes, there could be a number of others' —— fatalities.

we expect to see the death toll rise at this stage. we have had witness reports of at least five people killed in each of those mosques. there may be other fatalities around christchurch hospital that we are not aware of or have not been able to confirm at this stage. the rumours of the —— report of the injured are in the dozens, from what we can see from ambulances pulling in and out of the hospital. it is an unfolding situation. police have given an indication that there is at least another fender out there, but a number of participants in this very organised and calculated attack. thank you so much for that. thank you. we speak now to the bbc‘s hywel griffith what have you got for us hywel griffith what have you got for us you hywel griffith what have you got for us you can hywel griffith what have you got for us you can confirm that you are sure of? as we have just been hearing from the new zealand police in the last ten minutes or so, issuing

state m e nts last ten minutes or so, issuing statements that they can confirm mate does make multiple fatalities at two sites, the two mosques in central christchurch and they have apprehended one person that they believe that there may be another offender and so, as a precaution, that lockdown remains in place. and also, again, as we havejust been hearing, they have now issued a warning nationwide, cross new zealand, for all mosques to close their doors until further notice and for people to refrain from visiting. in the words of jacinda for people to refrain from visiting. in the words ofjacinda ardern, the prime minister, this is an unprecedented, exceptional event in new zealand. tragic beyond words, i think, jacinda ardern showing how she herself was visibly upset by this any message it sends out. she wa nted this any message it sends out. she wanted to make clear that the muslim population of new zealand is part of the nation, is welcome, and that anyone who would inflict a hate crime upon them like this is not welcome in new zealand. we havejust been hearing from a corresponded tv

nz, talk, perhaps, entirely unconfirmed, 5— six people killed at the al noor mosque, a second incident at the linwood mosque. more bodies there. she stressed she could not confirm of a possible incident at the christchurch hospital, we have been seeing many pictures of that hospital, casualties have been brought there. is there a suggestion that there was an attack on the hospital? so nothing yet from the police there. we know only that that is the centre of emergency response and people brought in with gunshot wounds. all other hospital services being shot down in order to cope with the influx of the injured. there were unconfirmed reports, as you say, of there being an incident there as well, but nothing from the police on that. certainly police talking about a number of fatalities and a number of scenes. possibly still a gunman or more than one on the loose. in their words, multiple

facilities at two sites. at the moment they are only talking about shootings and the two mosques. if there is another shooter on the loose their concern would be, clearly, that this person could be armed and dangerous and would be prepared to shoot again. so we do not know at the moment if there is a second person. the police themselves so second person. the police themselves so they do not know if there is a second offender. they believe that may be and that is why the city has to be lockdown. and a particularly difficult time, of course, for making sure people are safe, because, as you were saying, there we re because, as you were saying, there were these protests against climate change, these rallies going on, a lot of children out of school in open spaces protesting. yes. hundreds in christchurch. and hundreds in auckland and wellington, too. it was a day public protest. it had been busy in christchurch and in those other cities. while there are only reports of shootings in

christchurch, they are certainly taking precautionary measures in other places with the closure of mosques and a warning for people to be vigilant across the country. i guess one of their main fears would be triggering any sort of copycat attack, which we know is a risk in these sorts of dynamic extreme situations. but clearly the focus at the moment is the safety of people in christchurch. hywel. thank you for that. in a moment we will hear from the prime minister, jacinda ardern. she made it clear that she was keen to get to wellington, the capital, as fast as possible. we will hear from capital, as fast as possible. we will hearfrom her in a moment. just to recap, the new zealand city of christ church in lockdown as police search for an armed gunman who opened fire in a mosque. we understand there were attacks on at least two mosques, the al noor, where it is possible five or six people were killed, perhaps more, certainly doesn't injured, and the linwood mosque where some witnesses are talking about five or six

bodies. it is