Man charged with murder after New Zealand mosque shootings
CHRISTCHURCH/WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - The main suspect in mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, a day after the attack that killed 49 people and wounded dozens, prompting the prime minister to vow reform of the country’s gun laws.
Brenton Harrison Tarrant, a 28-year old Australian citizen, appeared in a Christchurch District Court and was remanded without a plea until his next scheduled appearance in the South Island city’s High Court on April 5.
Handcuffed and wearing a white prison suit, Tarrant did not speak. His court-appointed lawyer made no application for bail or name suppression.
He was likely to face further charges, police said.
The attack, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labeled as terrorism, was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand and the country raised its security threat level to the highest.
Footage of the attack on one of the mosques was broadcast live on Facebook, and a “manifesto” was also posted online that denounced immigrants as “invaders”.
The video footage showed a man driving to the mosque, entering it and shooting randomly at people inside. Worshippers, possibly dead or wounded, lay on the floor, the video showed. Reuters was unable to confirm the footage’s authenticity and police urged people not to view or share it.
Police said two other people were in custody.
Armed police were deployed at several locations in all cities, unusual in a country where levels of gun violence are low.
Ardern said the main suspect was a licensed gun owner who used five weapons during his rampage, including two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns.
“I can tell you one thing right now, our gun laws will change,” Ardern told reporters, saying a ban on semi-automatic weapons would be considered.
None of those arrested had a criminal history or was on any watchlist in New Zealand or Australia.
Rest at sauce. Told ya, "gun reform" coming now.
Pull FF(problem) - play the people's heart strings - create solution (ban scary military-style guns)
>https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-shootout/man-charged-with-murder-after-new-zealand-mosque-shootings-idUSKCN1QW2SK?il=0