Mass shooting in at least one mosque, Christchurch NZ

[galen_ubal]

From sister in law again:

From a news report in Chch:
One of the perpetrators had been posting his intentions on Twitter since Wed, including pictures of the weapons and clothes he would use/wear.
He chose NZ to prove that you’re not safe anywhere.
No one ordered the attack, he chose to do it.
He streamed the attack on FB. (Please don’t go searching for it. Don’t give him the satisfaction.)
He released a 37 page manifesto.
He was Australian.

[nearwildheaven]

This sounds like plain old terrorism.

He was right; nobody is safe.

[kambuckta]

And what’s the bet that Brenton Tarrant and his gang of terrorists will never be described as such by ou local media outlets. A single Muslim with mental health issues going on a rampage would have been immediately condemned as a significant operative of Islamic State. This horrific event will be spun as something else by the commercial media.

[AK84]

@lisiate

It was the national team, who were due to play a Test starting tomorrow, which has now been cancelled. Never thought I’d see a Test match cancelled due to a terrorist attack here in New Zealand.

There’s your problem. Never think “can’t happen” since it WILL.
Stay safe.

[kambuckta]

Latest update is 40 dead and 20 injured. Four were taken into custody but only 3 arrested.

So sad.

[Loach]

@kambuckta

And what’s the bet that Brenton Tarrant and his gang of terrorists will never be described as such by ou local media outlets. A single Muslim with mental health issues going on a rampage would have been immediately condemned as a significant operative of Islamic State. This horrific event will be spun as something else by the commercial media.

Moderating:

I understand your frustration and anger but please reserve this thread for factual updates. There is already a Pit thread available.

Thank you

[kambuckta]

@Loach

Moderating:

I understand your frustration and anger but please reserve this thread for factual updates. There is already a Pit thread available.

Thank you

Ahh, apologies. I’m posting from overseas on a stupid tablet and didn’t think to look in The Pit for stuff about this already.

[clairobscur]

@kambuckta

And what’s the bet that Brenton Tarrant and his gang of terrorists will never be described as such by ou local media outlets. A single Muslim with mental health issues going on a rampage would have been immediately condemned as a significant operative of Islamic State. This horrific event will be spun as something else by the commercial media.

I’m not sure what you mean exactly by “spun as something else”, but I don’t believe for an instant that it will be downplayed or that the media will try to find him excuses.

[lisiate]

Prime Minister Ardern has called this a terrorist attack already.

[GreenWyvern]

@kambuckta

And what’s the bet that Brenton Tarrant and his gang of terrorists will never be described as such by ou local media outlets. A single Muslim with mental health issues going on a rampage would have been immediately condemned as a significant operative of Islamic State. This horrific event will be spun as something else by the commercial media.

Jacinda Ardern immediately called it it a “terrorist attack”, and all the media I’ve seen seem to be following suit, including Australian media and politicians.

[GreenWyvern]

A good account from someone who was driving past as it happened and stopped to help.

Workers nursed 5-year-old victim, cradled dead

[Loach]

The BBC seems to be backing down a bit from saying there were multiple shooters. There was a map of where the two locations were but I didn’t get a good feel for the scale. Are they close enough together that one person could’ve attacked both places?

[HurricaneDitka]

never mind, will re-post if I find additional confirmation

[Loach]

All the reports I’ve seen have detailed what happened at the al Noor mosque. Reports are a lot less clear about the Linwood location.

[Loach]

Not sure if the BBC Is more or less accurate than more locally based sources. Right now it’s saying four are in custody, one man in his late 20s is being charged with murder. Of course that doesn’t mean that one or more of the others can’t be charged as well as this moves forward.

[HurricaneDitka]

This Twitter video appears to show two long-gun-armed individuals (neither of which appear to be dressed like the “main” shooter): https://twitter.com/levimacd/status/1106383627577749504

seems like it’s a real possibility that there were multiple shooters:

BREAKING: New Zealand Police reporting the possibility of three active shooters in the Christchurch mosque attacks

[Banquet_Bear]

…just numb right now . Aroha, my love and thoughts to the Muslim community. Kia kaha, we stand with you.

[Loach]

@HurricaneDitka

This Twitter video appears to show two long-gun-armed individuals (neither of which appear to be dressed like the “main” shooter): https://twitter.com/levimacd/status/1106383627577749504

seems like it’s a real possibility that there were multiple shooters:

I don’t know if I’m going to believe an account with two tweets. No point of reference. No proof where or when this was taken. Even if it was in New Zealand that could’ve been out of uniform cops responding to the scene.

And that breaking news tweet was from many hours ago.

[HurricaneDitka]

@Loach

I don’t know if I’m going to believe an account with two tweets. No point of reference. No proof where or when this was taken. Even if it was in New Zealand that could’ve been out of uniform cops responding to the scene.

And that breaking news tweet was from many hours ago.

Agreed that it’s still somewhat speculative (which is why I only called it a “possibility”). Pretty much every mass shooting in memory has had initial reports of multiple shooters and they almost always turn out to be incorrect. It would not shock me if this one followed that familiar pattern.

[Quartz]

The BBC are reporting 49 dead.

Forty-nine people have been killed and at least 20 wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described one alleged gunman, who had Australian citizenship, as an “extremist, right-wing” terrorist.

A man in his late twenties was charged with murder and will appear in court on Saturday morning, police confirmed.

Two other men and one woman were detained nearby and firearms seized, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.

He said police had determined that one of the people detained was not involved in the incident, and officers were working to understand if the other two were connected.

It’s possible that the latter group were going to engage the shooter, but that’s speculation.