YouTube star PewDiePie 'sickened' after New Zealand gunman uses his name in mass shooting live stream

Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie says he is “absolutely sickened” to have been name-checked by one of the New Zealand mosque attack suspects in the gunman’s shocking Facebook live feed.

At least 49 people have died in the massacres at two mosques in Christchurch today.

During the live stream the shooter said: “Remember, lads, subscribe to PewDiePie.”

The horrified YouTuber said on Twitter this morning that he had “just heard news of the devastating reports from New Zealand Christchurch.”

He added: “I feel absolutely sickened having my name uttered by this person.

“My heart and thoughts go out to the victims, families and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

The 29-year-old YouTuber – whose real name is Felix Kjellberg – has 89 million subscribers to his channel.

Controversy has long surrounded the multi-millionaire, who has been accused of promoting racism and anti-semitism; in one live stream in 2017 he used a racial slur against an opponent in an online game.

The massacres took place from 1.40pm this afternoon at the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood Masjid mosques.

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The suspect has been named as Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian.

He has been described by Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison as an “extremist right-wing violent terrorist”.

A total of four people – three men and one woman – are currently in custody and will appear in court tomorrow.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the “well planned” shootings could “only be described as a terrorist attack”.

She added that this was “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”.