NewZealand Dozens of people died and the city's historic cathedral was toppled in the disaster.
In what appeared to be the worst attack against Muslims in a western country, witnesses spoke of victims being shot at close range, with women and children believed to be among those killed.
The gunman at one mosque was an Australian-born citizen, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in Sydney, describing him as"an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist". "Then people started running out. Some were covered in blood," he said, adding that he joined the fleeing crowd and managed to escape.Video and documents circulating online -- but not officially confirmed -- suggested the shooter had streamed his attack on Facebook Live.
An ashen-faced Ardern told reporters the attacks had been"an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence".Forty-one of those slain were at the Masjid al Noor in central Christchurch, police said. Seven more were killed at the Linwood Ave mosque, three of them outside the building. It is unclear where the remaining victim died.
Police warned Muslims all over the country not to visit mosques"anywhere in New Zealand". Friday is Islam's holy day. A spokesman said the attack happened as some of players got off a team bus and were about to enter the mosque.
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