‘ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S DARKEST DAYS’: Multiple fatalities reported in New Zealand mass shooting

AP Photo/Mark Baker

A mass shooting at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch has prompted a major police response on Friday afternoon.
Law-enforcement officials say there are multiple fatalities. Police said three suspects are in custody, including three men and one woman. Locals have been urged to stay indoors as the police operation continues.
The suspected shooters are said to have targeted at least two mosques and the main hospital in the area.
Police have not yet confirmed the number of casualties, though witnesses described seeing "many" people dead, local news outlets reported.
Police also confirmed there were a number of IED attached to vehicles in the area that have been dealt with.

A mass shooting at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch has prompted a major police response on Friday afternoon.

Law-enforcement officials say there are multiple fatalities. Police Commissioner Mike Bush said four suspects, including three men and one woman, is in custody. He would not confirm if they were known to police beforehand.

Locals have been urged to stay indoors as the police operation continues.

The suspected gunmen are said to have targeted two mosques and the main hospital in the area, police said.

Police commissioner Mike Bush said during a press conference at 5:30 p.m. local time that a number of fatalities have been reported.

"We are currently dealing with an unprecedented situation in New Zealand," he said.

"We have multiple fatalities, we can’t yet say how many but it is significant."

"It doesn’t get any more serious in this country than this."

Bush confirmed there were a number of IED attached to vehicles in the area. He added that the military has dealt with the explosives.

He added that schools and a number of buildings remain on lockdown and police cannot assume that there aren’t more suspects at large.

"We urge New Zealanders to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior immediately to 111," the commissioner said.

Police are working nationally to bring in resources. All mosques nationwide have been asked to shut their doors until further notice.

Eyewitnesses reported a man with a gun entered one of the city’s mosques at around 1:40 p.m. local time.

AP Photo/Mark Baker

Police confirmed that there is distressing footage related to the shooting circulating on social media but are urging people not to share it.

"It is clear that this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days"

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern said during a press conference that the shooting involves multiple scenes.

"It is clear that this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days," she said Friday afternoon. "Clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence," Ardern said.

"Many of those impacted by the shootings may be migrants, and they have chosen to make New Zealand their home. They are us. The person who perpetuated this violence is not," she said.

"There is absolutely no place in New Zealand for such extreme acts of unprecedented violence."

According to Radio New Zealand, there were up to 300 people inside the mosque for afternoon prayers.

A witness told Radio New Zealand that a man in a helmet and glasses and a military style jacket entered the mosque and began shooting with an automatic weapon.

Bush said the two Mosque’s involved were located on Dean’s Avenue and Linwood Avenue. Both locations have been put on lockdown.

Police are not yet calling this a terror attack.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.