New Zealand Mosque terror suspect 'makes white power hand gesture' in court

Australian man Brenton Tarrant has been charged with murder following Friday’s Christchurch mosque shootings.
Australian man Brenton Tarrant has been charged with murder following Friday’s Christchurch mosque shootings.

The suspected murderer alleged to have carried out a terror attack which killed 49 innocent Muslims appeared to make a ‘white power’ gesture in court.

Brenton Tarrant, 28, from Australia, appeared to have live-streamed the attack on two Christchurch mosques, while reportedly outlining his anti-immigrant motives in a manifesto posted online.

On Saturday, Tarrant appeared in court charged with murder.

While in court, handcuffed Tarrant made hand gesture by connecting his thumb and forefinger. Reports suggest this symbol in known among white supremacist communities.

Tarrant was remanded until April 5 and police confirmed that more charges were likely to follow.

It took 36 minutes from the first emergency call on Friday before the suspect was in custody, New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.

Tarrant’s residence, in Dunedin, is currently being searched for evidence as the investigation continues.

A total of four people were arrested following the massacre – one of whom was in possession of a firearm but with the intention of assisting police and was released a short time later.

Mr Bush said two of those in custody were arrested at a cordon, and that police were working to establish whether they had had any involvement in the incident.

A man places a candle at a flower tribute area at Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 16, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su
A man places a candle at a flower tribute area at Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 16, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

On Saturday, Christchurch Hospital said 39 people remained in hospital, 11 of them in intensive care.

Four people died en route to the hospital, while a four-year-old girl was transferred to a hospital in Auckland in a critical condition.

The majority of the patients are male aged 30 to 40, while two of them are boys aged two and 13, said Greg Robertson, chief of surgery at the hospital.

Of the 48 people admitted on Friday, seven have been discharged.

“Twelve operating theatres worked through the night,” said Mr Robertson.

“Many of those injured will need multiple returns to surgery.”

Of those killed in the massacre, 41 died at the Masjid Al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue in central Christchurch, seven were killed at the suburban Linwood Masjid Mosque, and one person died at Christchurch Hospital.


People react at a flower tribute area at Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 16, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su
People react at a flower tribute area at Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 16, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

In the video live-streamed by Tarrant, a man inside a mosque appears to say “Welcome brother” as a gunman approaches.

A number of improvised explosive devices found on a vehicle after the shootings were defused by police.

Mr Bush, who had earlier called the attack a “very well-planned event”, said the suspect was not known to police either in New Zealand or Australia.

New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed to reform gun laws since the mosque terror atrocity, as current legislation allowed the suspect to have a Category A gun licence, enabling him to legally obtain semi-automatic weapons.

Ms Ardern said the firearms used in the mosque shootings appeared to have been modified.

She said: “New Zealanders will question how someone can come into being in possession of weapons of this nature.

“The guns used in this case appear to have been modified. That’s a challenge police have been facing and a challenge we will look to address in changing laws.”

She added: “There are a raft of issues on the table that I think we need to look at. We need to include modification of guns which can lead them to becoming essentially the kinds of weapons we’ve seen used in this terrorist attack.”

Officers responded to reports of shots fired in central Christchurch at about 1.40pm local time (12.40am GMT), and urged people in the area to stay indoors.

Police urged all mosques across New Zealand to stay closed over the weekend for security reasons.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to representatives of the Muslim community at Canterbury refugee centre in Christchurch, New Zealand March 16, 2019. New Zealand Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to representatives of the Muslim community at Canterbury refugee centre in Christchurch, New Zealand March 16, 2019. New Zealand Prime Minister’s Office/Handout via REUTERS