Australia takes precautions after national carries out NZ mosque massacre

Published March 15, 2019
PM Scott Morrison says Australian authorities are investigating links between the country and terrorist attack. — AFP/File
PM Scott Morrison says Australian authorities are investigating links between the country and terrorist attack. — AFP/File

The gunman who killed 40 worshippers in two New Zealand mosques on Friday was a right-wing “terrorist” with Australian citizenship, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

“We stand here and condemn absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist,” Morrison told a press conference.

He confirmed media reports that the gunman, who identified himself as Brenton Tarrant and mowed down worshippers in two mosques in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch, was an Australian-born citizen.

Also read: 'Terrorism does not have a religion' — Pakistan condemns New Zealand mosque shootings

He said Australian authorities were investigating any links between the country and the attack, but declined to provide further details about the alleged shooter.

Australian media reported the gunman came from a town in New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital, and state police later said they were increasing patrols around NSW mosques in light of the Christchurch attacks.

The police described the move as a precaution as “there is no ongoing or specific threat to any mosque or place of worship” in the state.

An emotional Morrison offered his sympathies to Kiwis, and announced that flags in Australia would be flown at half-mast in memory of the victims.

“We are not just allies, we are not just partners, we are family,” he said.

New Zealand police detained three men after the attacks, but have not provided their identities.

“It is such a sad and devastating reminder of the evil that can be ever present about us,” Morrison said of the attacks.

Opinion

Editorial

Killing fields
Updated 09 Jul, 2025

Killing fields

Israeli state seeks to ethnically cleanse the occupied territories of their Palestinian inhabitants, and forever obstruct the chances of a viable Palestinian state.
Crypto rush
09 Jul, 2025

Crypto rush

STEP by step, Pakistan is, at least on paper, moving closer to recognising, adopting and regulating cryptocurrencies...
Another plan
09 Jul, 2025

Another plan

FAILING to plan is planning to fail, as the old saying goes. This seems to have occurred in the case of Karachi, a...
Green tokenism
Updated 08 Jul, 2025

Green tokenism

Climate decisions must be based on facts, not politics — guided by independent science and open to public scrutiny.
Cotton decline
08 Jul, 2025

Cotton decline

PAKISTAN’S cotton economy is in a crisis. Production has fallen from a peak of 14m bales 10 years ago to 5.5m ...
Pet problems
08 Jul, 2025

Pet problems

PAKISTANIS’ obsession with exotic pets keeps ending in tragedy. Incidents like the recent lion attack in a Lahore...