#Linwood mosque

[grad603laura]

Research on the 2019 Christchurch Mosque Attacks.

On 15 March 2019, two consecutive mass shootings occurred in a terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The attacks, carried out by a lone gunman who entered both mosques during Friday prayer, began at the Al Noor Mosque in the suburb of Riccarton at 1:40 pm and continued at the Linwood Islamic Centre at 1:52 pm. 51 people were killed and 40 were injured.

The gunman, 28-year-old Brenton Harrison Tarrant from New South Wales, Australia was arrested after his vehicle was rammed by a police unit as he was driving to a third mosque in Ashburton. He was described in media reports as a white supremacist. He had live-streamed the first shooting on Facebook, and prior to the attack, had published an online manifesto; both the video and manifesto were subsequently banned in New Zealand and Australia. On 26 March 2020, he pleaded guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and engaging in a terrorist act, and in August was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole – the first such sentence in New Zealand.

The attack was linked to an increase in white supremacy and alt-right extremism globally observed since about 2015. Politicians and world leaders condemned it, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described it as "one of New Zealand's darkest days". The government established a royal commission into its security agencies in the wake of the shootings, which were the deadliest in modern New Zealand history and the worst ever committed by an Australian national. The commission submitted its report to the government on 26 November 2020, the details of which were made public on 7 December

How did Parliament respond? 

When Parliament sat for the first time following the attacks, on March 19, then Speaker Trevor Mallard led a procession of leaders from different faiths into the House. Usually, non-members are not allowed to walk on the floor of the debating chamber when Parliament is in session. 

Sittings of the House normally begin with the parliamentary prayer. The March 19 session was instead opened with a prayer in Arabic from Imam Nizam ul haq Thanvi, translated into English by Tahir Nawaz. This was followed by the parliamentary prayer in te reo Māori by then Assistant Speaker Adrian Rurawhe, and in English by then Deputy Speaker Hon Anne Tolley.

"That quiet Friday afternoon has become our darkest of days. But for the families, it was more than that. It was the day that the simple act of prayer, of practicing their Muslim Faith and religion, led to the loss of their loved ones lives. Those loved ones were brothers, daughters, fathers, and children. They were New Zealanders. They are us. And because they are us, we as a nation, mourn them." - Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

"The unimaginable hurt that our Islamic community is feeling is shared amongst all New Zealanders, because I know that every New Zealander feels this wasn't just something targeted at our Islamic community or just at Christchurch, as real as that is; it. has happened to all New Zealanders, and all New Zealanders are grieving with them." - Hon Simon Bridges

NZ Changed their Gun Laws

Reforming New Zealand’s gun laws 

Parliament acted swiftly after the mosque attacks to introduce gun laws to improve public safety and tighten gun control in New Zealand.

The first of these was the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines and Parts) Amendment Bill. It was introduced to Parliament just over a fortnight after the attacks. The bill aimed to remove semi-automatic firearms from circulation and use by New Zealand’s general population, by banning semi-automatic firearms, magazines, and parts that can be used to assemble these.

Usually, bills take months or even years to pass through the several stages to becoming law. However, in this case Parliament agreed to accelerate the process, and the bill became law within 11 days.  

The bill had near unanimous support across the House, with all but one of Parliament’s 120 MPs voting for it.

In September 2019, the Arms Legislation Bill was introduced. This bill aimed to introduce  tighter controls on the use and possession of firearms. It also re-stated the purpose of the Arms Act to make it clear that owning a firearm is a privilege, and that people with that privilege have a responsibility to act in the interests of personal and public safety.

The bill enabled the creation of a registry to store information about licence holders, their weapons, and ammunition. It also strengthened the licensing system by creating a new system of warning flags to show if someone is not a fit and proper person to hold a firearms licence.

The Arms Legislation Bill bill was granted Royal assent in June 2020.

Reference List

[warningsine]

WELLINGTON: An inquest into New Zealand's 2019 mosque killings opened on Tuesday, with relatives of the 51 people who died in the massacre hoping to discover if any lives could have been saved.

White supremacist Brenton Tarrant shot and killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in the eastern city of Christchurch on March 15, 2019, in New Zealand's deadliest modern-day mass shooting.

Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley opened the inquiry in Christchurch, saying it would "look at what we may learn from this atrocity and speak for those who have lost their lives in an effort to protect the living."

Maha Galal, spokesman for the "15 March Whanau Trust," representing some of the victims' relatives, said there was an "urgent need for answers."

"Our paramount concern is to comprehend the truth," she said in a statement before the inquiry began.

Family and friends packed the courtroom for the emotionally charged opening session, which included a moving video tribute to each of the victims.

Detective Senior Sgt. Craig Farrant then gave an outline of the attacks, saying 49 people were murdered within 19 minutes, with two more later dying of their injuries in the hospital.

He described the homicide investigation launched in the wake of the attacks as "the largest" ever undertaken by New Zealand police, "with the size and scope of the offending being unprecedented in our history."

Observers were shown a harrowing video depicting Tarrant's movements around Christchurch on the day of the attack, including footage he had filmed using a GoPro camera.

Tarrant's first attack on the Al Noor mosque would ultimately leave 44 people dead.

He then drove about 10 minutes to the nearby Linwood Islamic Center, where he would kill seven more.

The inquest will examine the response times of police and emergency services, the medical response at each mosque, whether Tarrant was helped in planning the attack, and whether any lives could have been saved.

"This pursuit of truth is crucial for healing and closure," said Galal.

The families of the victims "are united in their pursuit of understanding, seeking clarity on whether their loved ones could have survived," she added.

'Base hatred'

The killings by Tarrant, an Australian former gym instructor from the rural New South Wales town of Grafton, horrified New Zealand and sparked global revulsion.

After admitting to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism, he was sentenced in August 2020 to life imprisonment without parole.

In his sentencing, Judge Cameron Mander said Tarrant's "warped" ideology and "base hatred" led him to murder defenseless men, women and children.

Tarrant had livestreamed the killings on social media and published a manifesto online before carrying out the attacks.

Then-prime minister Jacinda Ardern quickly moved to tighten gun laws in the aftermath and put pressure on social media giants to curb online extremism.

Galal said the victims' families hoped the inquest would provide some closure and highlight ways such an attack could be prevented in the future.

"We believe that there is much we can learn from what happened on March 15, 2019, so that we are all prepared, as a community, if such a tragedy happens again, which we pray will not happen," she said.

[grad603madiwolfgramm]

Further Research - “New Zealand’s Darkest Days”

Researching and breaking down my Assigned Audio Speech at the Christchurch Memorial, I heard Jacinda Ardern's address. I'm researching Jacinda Ardern and the event in order to come up with concepts for my animation.

Christchurch Mosque Shootings:

https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/NZ-DARKEST-DAY/index.html

It took just 21 minutes of mayhem to end 50 lives and change hundreds of others forever. 

15th March 2019 (4 years ago)

Target: Muslim Worshippers 

Location: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Motive: White Supremacy, Islamophobia, Far-right extremism, Ecofascism

A terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, resulted in two consecutive mass shootings.

The attacks began at the Al Noor Mosque in the Riccarton neighbourhood of Riccarton at 1:40 pm and proceeded at the Linwood Islamic Centre at 1:52 pm, both carried out by a lone gunman who entered both mosques during Friday prayer. There were 51 deaths and 40 injuries.

Background: New Zealand has been regarded as a secure and tolerant environment with low levels of gun violence, and the Global Peace Index rated it the world's second-most peaceful country in 2019, the year of the attacks. This was the country's first mass shooting since the Raurimu massacre in 1997; prior to that, the deadliest public mass shooting was the 1990 Aramoana tragedy, which killed 13 people.

Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, of Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, was arrested after his vehicle was rammed by a police unit as he drove to a third mosque in Ashburton. According to media sources, he is a white supremacist. He had live-streamed the first shooting on Facebook and had released an online manifesto prior to the attack; both the video and the text were later banned in New Zealand and Australia.

On March 26, 2020, he entered a plea of guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and participation in a terrorist act and was convicted to life in jail without the possibility of release in August, the first such sentence in New Zealand.

Aftermath 

Media Response 

Fundraisers + Philanthropy 

Governmental Response:

Police ordered mosques to close temporarily and dispatched cops to secure and patrol several Christchurch locations.

Terrorism threat level elevated to high for the first time in New Zealand history. The incident was described as a "act of extreme and unprecedented violence" on "one of New Zealand's darkest days" by Prime Minister Ardern. She called it a "well-planned" terrorist attack and stated she would "nameless" the individual accused of the crimes while urged the public to say the names of the victims instead.

Event: Christchurch Memorial at New Zealand Service

Standing ovations greeted New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as she entered the stage to address an audience of thousands assembled at Hagley Park for a statewide memory service in honour of 50 people killed in the country's worst terrorist assault.

The Ko Tātou, Tātou We Are One ceremony was broadcast live to many other activities taking place across the country to remember those who died two weeks ago when a gunman stormed two mosques in central Christchurch.

The service was co-led by the government, the City of Christchurch, Ngāi Tahu - a local iwi, and the Muslim community.

[mediamattersforamerica]

Today we stand in solidarity with Christchurch, NZ as the community mourns the at least forty-nine people murdered in a terrorist attack on the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Mosque on Friday, March 15.

According to The New York Times, the gunman’s “choice of language, and the specific memes he referred to, suggest a deep connection to the far-right online community. The link to the livestreamed video was first posted to the /pol/ forum of 8chan, a notorious far-right space, where the gunman was hailed as a hero after the shooting.”

The world cannot stand by while anti-Muslim hate and white supremacist bigotry spreads online and inspires these hate-filled crimes.

[beautyinsteadofashes]

TW /// QUEER EYE'S SEASON 3 PREMIERE CONTAINS GUNS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PRO GUNS

I opened it as an escape and then noped right out

[waywardmasquerade]

A ribbon rose wreath I made for the local mosque on the 15th of March, one year after the white supremacist terror attacks on Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic centre in Christchurch. 

The white roses are made from satin ribbon, the hessian roses are made from a double layered jute/hessian ribbon, the silvery roses are made from satin ribbon, and cream roses are made from strips of calico. Each one was made by hand and them hand stitched on.

White is often associated with peace and prayer, brown is frequently associated with purity and peace, so I thought some combinations of that colour palette would be nice.

[throwrocksatboys]

Tree Of Life Synagogue helping the Al Noor and Linwood Mosques

This is amazing!! Remember when the Tree Of Life Synagogue was the centered a mass shooting not too long ago? 11 Jewish people were murdered simply for being at a worship service. And remember how their (our) Muslims neighbours started a Gofundme and raised over $240K ??

Well, sadly, the time has come to reciprocate. The Tree Of Life Synagogue has started a Gofundme to help their (our) Muslim neighbours in New Zealand.

This is what religion is supposed to be about. And this is what decent human beings when they see someone in need.

If you can help, please do. Click here. Or just reblog this.

[unclesamsmisguidedclub]

New Zealand Mosque Shootings - At Least 49 Dead, Including Children

New Zealand Mosque Shootings – At Least 49 Dead, Including Children

Christchurch, New Zealand – A mass shooting incident at the Masjid al Noor mosque, and the Linwood Masjid mosque in New Zealand left 49 dead, including children during Friday prayers (Jummah prayers). In addition to the deceased, numerous people were injured. At the second mosque in Linwood, an armed Muslim was able to stop the suspect from his killing spree by firing “a couple” of shots at them.

[meanderingandrambling]

@yesdallas702: “I’m not Islamophobic, I just” *vomits Islamophobic conspiracy theories from what is clearly a throw away blog meant specifically for this kind of trolling all over my poor unsuspecting blog like a first year student during a convocation after-party*

In all seriousness it’s this kind of bullshit that ends in mass murder. This trolling is an attempt to whip up violence. I advise readers to flag this blog for inciting terrorism. I’d be shocked if anything came of it, but it’s the principle.

And as an aside while Islam wasn’t my focus (it was late medieval mysticism and gender as it relates to religion) I did have the privilege to study the religion and many of its texts in an academic setting with some truly wonderful Muslim instructors.

[serendip8y]

A miniature train gifted by the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens is getting its first spin in Christchurch.

Yusuf Islam gifted his "peace train" after the deadly attacks on the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in the city in 2019.

Fifty-one people died and 40 more were injured in the attack by a lone gunman, who has since been jailed.

Islam praised Mahia Te Aroha, a city initiative formed after the attacks to spread peace and compassion.

He travelled to Christchurch after the attacks and performed his 1971 hit Peace Train at the remembrance service, two weeks on.

"It's only a little thing, a little chugger, but it's a sign of my connection with your beautiful country, your beautiful people, and the hearts that have given so much to the world through this example," he said in a video message

Source: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/all-aboard-peace-train

[solacekames]

When the gunman advanced toward the mosque, killing those in his path, Abdul Aziz didn't hide. Instead, he picked up the first thing he could find, a credit card machine, and ran outside screaming "Come here!"

Aziz, 48, is being hailed as a hero for preventing more deaths during Friday prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch after leading the gunman in a cat-and-mouse chase before scaring him into speeding away in his car.

But Aziz, whose four sons and dozens of others remained in the mosque while he faced off with the gunman, said he thinks it's what anyone would have done.

The gunman killed 49 people after attacking two mosques in the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand's modern history.

[...]

He said he could hear his two youngest sons, aged 11 and 5, urging him to come back inside.

The gunman returned, firing. Aziz said he ran, weaving through cars parked in the driveway, which prevented the gunman from getting a clean shot. Then Aziz spotted a gun the gunman had abandoned and picked it up, pointed it and squeezed the trigger. It was empty.

He said the gunman ran back to the car for a second time, likely to grab yet another weapon.

"He gets into his car and I just got the gun and threw it on his window like an arrow and blasted his window," he said.

The windshield shattered: "That's why he got scared."

He said the gunman was cursing at him, yelling that he was going to kill them all. But he drove away and Aziz said he chased the car down the street to a red light, before it made a U-turn and sped away. Online videos indicate police officers managed to force the car from the road and drag out the suspect soon after.

Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, Aziz said he left as a refugee when he was a boy and lived for more than 25 years in Australia before moving to New Zealand a couple of years ago."I've been to a lot of countries and this is one of the beautiful ones," he said. And, he always thought, a peaceful one as well.

Aziz said he didn't feel fear or much of anything when facing the gunman. It was like he was on autopilot. And he believes that Allah didn't think it was his time to die.

[randyite]

"As a way of showing solidarity with the teen, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help him pay for legal fees and to buy 'more eggs.'”  Yay!

[ancienttragedies]

Today is the 15th of march. This marks two years since the terrorist attacks on the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, where 51 where killed and 40 where injured. This was an act carried out by a white supremacist, and is the largest terrorist attack in new Zealand's history.  We must remember the lives lost on these days, remember all the survivors who where traumatized and who are still suffering from injuries. We must never let something like this happen ever again. My heart goes out to all who where affected, and continue to be affected to this day. Sending my love.

[skippyv20]

Thank you😊❤️❤️❤️❤️

Royal visit in New Zealand

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited the damaged Christchurch Cathedral during the sixth day of the royal visit to New Zealand. During their emotional visit, the couple were seen consoling the family of a ‘dedicated’ 24-year-old man who died in the Christchurch mass shootings. Tariq Omar, a keen footballer, was one of 51 people killed in the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s history when a gunman opened fire at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. A further 49 were injured in the attacks on March 15.

Prince Charles, and the Duchess of Cornwall were greeted by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern before holding a private meeting with members of the Omar family during a visit to Cashmere High School, with four current or former students of the school killed in the attack.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwalll were greeted by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a visit to Christchurch Cathedral, on the sixth day of the royal visit to the country

The Duchess met Rosemary Omar, who lost her son Tariq in the Christchurch mosque shooting, during a visit to Cashmere High School as she spoke with the family of victims of the Christchurch mosque shooting

The damaged Christchurch Cathedral which was visited by the Prince of Wales during the royal visit to New Zealand

Rosemary Omar, the mother of Tariq, said: 'From my point of view, it’s just very comforting to know that the Duchess of Cornwall understands how we feel. 'She’s been very sympathetic and very caring, good advice as well.

The Prince of Wales greeted people during a public walk in Christchurch, New Zealand

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are photographed in front of the damage Christchurch cathedral 

Prince Charles told an audience at Cashmere Public School he knew of the 'terrible anguish’ felt by the community, referring to the murder of his great-uncle Louis Mountbatten by terrorists in 1979. 'I can only say how much you have been in our thoughts and prayers over these past months as you have sought to come to terms with the appalling atrocity that was perpetrated on this community,’ the Prince said. 'I believe I may know something, just something perhaps, of the terrible anguish you have suffered having lost my own beloved great-uncle as well as one of my godsons when they were murdered by terrorists some 40 years ago. I can appreciate therefore the intense grief and anger that you have faced and the terrible despair that can result. It seems to me the only possible remedy for such understandable feelings of despair is hope.’

Jacinda Ahern, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales looked animated as they arrived at Cashmere High School to meet with the family of victims of the Christchurch mosque shooting

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the aftermath of the Christchurch attack said it was an 'act of extreme and unprecedented violence’ on 'one of New Zealand’s darkest days’. Pictured, with Camilla, Prince Charles and Joe Eccleton, Principal of Cashmere High School

Prince Charles and Joe Eccleton, Principal of Cashmere High School, watching a presentation at Cashmere High School

Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed alongside his teenage grandson Nicolas Knatchbull and two others when a bomb exploded on a wooden fishing boat off the western coast of the Republic of Ireland in 1979, with the IRA going on to claim responsibility. The worst of times, it seems to me, can so often bring out the very best in us all,’ Prince Charles said. 'In the wake of the terrible events of March 15, we have seen many examples of this as all the communities of Christchurch have stood proudly with their Muslim brothers and sisters, as those who have suffered so grievously have shown such dignity in response. In all of this the strength of New Zealand character, which I have long admired, has shone through with tolerance, courage and compassion on such conspicuous display. In the midst of the most dreadful loss there is, therefore, cause for great hope,’ he added, before signing off by saying 'strength and courage to us all’ in Maori.

Prince Charles greeted royal fans who lined the entrance as he arrived at the High School in Christchurch

The Duchess of Cornwall met with Rosemary Omar, who lost her son Tariq in the Christchurch mosque shooting

The school’s head boy Okirano Tilaia, who led a vigil specifically for school children three days after the attacks, said: 'That Friday, no words can describe what any of us felt.’ Speaking about the vigil, he said: 'We stood together, united. Our message was, and is, this is who we are, not darkness but light, not hate but love. One evil act does not define who we are, what defines us is how we choose to respond.' 

At Riverside Market in Christchurch, The Duchess meets stallholders and samples some of their local produce. The market is home to more than 70 businesses and was built using recycled timbers and features from buildings demolished following the 2011 earthquake

In January last year, The Duchess visited the RADheadquarters in London to learn about the Silver Swans programme.

“ We simply must be bold and we must make choices that are right for the future, not just convenient for today.” Read The Prince of Wales’s speech on the environment, delivered today  

It was an absolute pleasure to host His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales on campus this afternoon, when he gave a powerful address on the global state of the environment.  

RoyalUK

[warriormale]

This Man, Abdul Aziz,  protected many lives on Friday at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch.

Read the story of a Man who moved to action to save lives!

An incredible story of bravery!

A fighter, a Manly Man, protects and defends.

Warriormale

[citrinebender]

Say their names

Here are some of the victims of the Christchurch Mosque terror attack. Remember them.

Sources: x, x 

“Whoever kills a human being, unless as a punishment for murder, it is as if he has killed the entire mankind.” Quran 5:32 ~

Mucad Ibrahim, age 3

Mucad's brother, Abdi Ibrahim, has said no-one had seen him since the shooting. He was at the Al Noor mosque with his family.

Abdullahi Dirie, 4

Abdulrahman Hashi, 60, a preacher at Dar Al Hijrah Mosque in Minneapolis, told The Washington Post his 4-year-old nephew was among those killed.

He received a phone call Friday morning from his brother-in-law Adan Ibrahin Dirie, who was also in the hospital with gunshot wounds. Four of his children escaped unharmed, but the youngest, Abdullahi, was killed.

Sayyad Milne, 14

Sayyad's father has spoken through tears of his "brave little soldier", who died at the Al Noor Mosque.

The Year 10 Cashmere High School was at the mosque with his mother and friends. He attends every Friday.

His father John Milne told NZME through tears: "I've lost my little boy, he's just turned 14. I'll get it together again.

"I haven't heard officially yet that he's actually passed but I know he has because he was seen.

Khaled Mustafa and son Hamza, 16

He fled from ISIS and war-torn Syria, with his family, to pursue a new life in New Zealand. The Syrian refugees reportedly only arrived in New Zealand only a few months ago. Khaled died at the Al Noor Mosque while his son Hamza is missing. Another son, Zaid, 13 is in Christchurch Hospital where he underwent a six-hour operation last night

Naeem Rashid and son Talha, 21.

After he witnessed his son Taha shot and killed, and men and women were slain around him, he lunged at the terrorist with his bare hands.

Atta Elayyan, 33

A national futsal player is among the dead. Born in Kuwait, Elayyan, a goalkeeper, recently became a father and was a popular member of the Christchurch tech industry. He was a director and shareholder of a company called LWA Solutions. 

Husne Ara Parvin, 42

Parvin was shot when she tried to save her wheelchair-bound husband Farid Uddin, according to a relative. She went to the women’s section after leaving her paralyzed husband in the men’s section on the wheelchair, She went out when she heard gunshots, and died trying to save her husband.

Lilik Abdul Hamid

A Facebook appeal was issued for Hamid.

"A friend of one struggle... has passed away in New Zealand... the victim of NZ animal terrorist,' a relative wrote on Facebook.

Haji-Daoud Nabi, 71

Nabi ran the Afghan Association and was inside the Al Noor Mosque at the time of the shooting.

The 71-year-old was a refugee from Afghanistan and is thought to have died inside.

Haroon Mahmood, 40

Haroon left Pakistan to pursue an education at Lincoln University in Christchurch. Dr Haroon Mahmood leaves a wife and two children aged 13 and 11.

Amjad Hamid, 57

The heart doctor moved to New Zealand from Palestine 23 years ago because he wanted a better future. He is believed to be dead.

Mohammad Atta Alayan

He built the Christchurch Mosque. A Palestinian refugee, he raised the funds to create a community space for New Zealand’s Muslims Here he is, smiling with his son. 

Farhaj Ahsan, 30

Ashan, 30, left the Christchurch home he shares with wife Insha Aziz, his 3-year-old daughter and 7-month-old son on Friday morning for prayer.

"I do not know where my son is," his father Mohammad Sayeeduddin told the Herald from his home in Hyderabad, India.

"I have been in contact with his wife Insha in New Zealand since it happened and we don't know anything.”

Syed Jahandad Ali, 34

Ali's wife Amna Ali, currently in Pakistan, last spoke to her husband on Friday morning while having breakfast.

One of his colleagues told her they left work at 1pm on Friday to head to the Al Noor Mosque

Osama Adnan, 37

Adnan is of Egyptian origin and among the missing.

His colleague tweeted an appeal and said he hoped Osama would "show up soon" and make a "full recovery".

Hussain Al-Umari, 36

Al-Umari's parents Janna Ezat and Hazim Al-Umari have said they last spoke to their son on Thursday night. They fear he is among the dead at the Al Noor mosque where he regularly attends Friday prayers.

The family immigrated to New Zealand from the United Arab Emirates in 1997.

Hazim Al-Umari told Newshub he did not attend the mosque and he advised his son not to go "because it's not safe".

Mojammel Hoq, 30

Hoq, from Bangladesh, is among the missing, a friend told the Herald.

He has been in Christchurch for over two years studying dentistry.

Mohammad Imran Kahn, 47

Kahn is thought to have died at the Linwood Mosque.

A friend said he owned two restaurants in Christchurch, including the Indian Grill.

Ali Elmadani, 66

Elmadani was born in Palestine.

His wife, Nuha Assad, has not heard from him since he went to the Al Noor mosque to pray.

Vora Ramiz, 28

Ramiz is among the missing.

Ansi Karippakulam Alibava, 25

Alibava, a 25-year-old woman originally from India, is among the missing.

Linda Armstrong, 65

A friend told the Herald that Armstrong died in the arms of a lady who was shot in the arm and survived at Linwood Mosque.

The friend said Armstrong always took people into her home and was kind.

"She was like a child about everything. She was so happy. She was always excited to do a good deed. She was happy to do it."

She sponsored a boy from Bangladesh.