The self-proclaimed white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques in March 2019, filed an appeal against his conviction and whole-life sentence on Monday.&nbsp;

The Australian national had stormed &nbsp;Christchurch's Al Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, armed with semi-automatic weapons, firing indiscriminately at the Muslim worshippers gathered for Friday prayers, while live streaming the killings on social media.

No date for the hearing has been set, a spokesperson for the Court of Appeal in the capital Wellington told multiple media outlets in New Zealand on Tuesday. The grounds for appeal are yet to be made clear.&nbsp;

Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder, and a charge of committing a terrorist attack.

WATCH |&nbsp;How New Zealand mourned those killed in Christchurch shooting

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Brenton Tarrant's sentencing was the first time when a court sentenced someone to prison for the rest of their life.&nbsp;

"Your crimes are so wicked, that even if you are detained until you die it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation," judge Cameroon Mander had said while announcing the quantum of sentence.&nbsp;

Earlier in November 2021, Brenton Tarrant's then-Lawyer, Tony Ellis had said that his client was considering an appeal against his verdict. He had claimed that Brenton's guilty plea was obtained under duress and that he was subjected to "inhuman and degrading treatment" in police custody. At present, Ellis no longer represents Brenton Tarrant.&nbsp;

The 2019 attack led to major gun reforms in New Zealand, including the Christchurch Call, an initiative to combat extremist content online.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The self-proclaimed white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques in March 2019, filed an appeal against his conviction and whole-life sentence on Monday.

The self-proclaimed white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques in March 2019, filed an appeal against his conviction and whole-life sentence on Monday. The Australian national had stormed Christchurch's Al Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, armed with semi-automatic weapons, firing indiscriminately at the Muslim worshippers gathered for Friday prayers, while live streaming the killings on social media. No date for the hearing has been set, a spokesperson for the Court of Appeal in the capital Wellington told multiple media outlets in New Zealand on Tuesday. The grounds for appeal are yet to be made clear. Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder, and a charge of committing a terrorist attack. WATCH | How New Zealand mourned those killed in Christchurch shooting × Brenton Tarrant's sentencing was the first time when a court sentenced someone to prison for the rest of their life. "Your crimes are so wicked, that even if you are detained until you die it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation," judge Cameroon Mander had said while announcing the quantum of sentence. Earlier in November 2021, Brenton Tarrant's then-Lawyer, Tony Ellis had said that his client was considering an appeal against his verdict. He had claimed that Brenton's guilty plea was obtained under duress and that he was subjected to "inhuman and degrading treatment" in police custody. At present, Ellis no longer represents Brenton Tarrant. The 2019 attack led to major gun reforms in New Zealand, including the Christchurch Call, an initiative to combat extremist content online. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New Zealand mosque gunman, who killed 51 people in 2019, files appeal against life sentence

Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who gunned down 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019, has appealed challenging his convictions and jail time.

Tarrant, who is now 32, was jailed for life without parole in 2020 after pleading guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and a terrorism charge.

In New Zealand, the highest amount of punishment a convict can get is life imprisonment, as the country does not have the death penalty.

According to the Guardian, Tarrant has filed his petition against his convictions and sentence in New Zealand’s court of appeal.

His plea is currently being reviewed by the court as it was filed outside the legislated time frame. The grounds for appeal are not known, and the court is yet to decide on a hearing date.

Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said he was attempting to "revictimise people".

Watch |&nbsp;Survivors, family members of victims of Christchurch shooting share their pain

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“His is a name that shouldn't be repeated and I'm going to apply that same rule in commenting on his attempts to revictimise people. We should give him nothing,” Ardern told reporters.

Her government, as a policy, refuses to name Tarrant in an attempt to deprive him of providing a platform to spread his extremist views.

Tarrant, an&nbsp;Australian citizen, moved to New Zealand in 2017. Little is known about his past.

On March 15, 2019, Tarrant stormed into two mosques in the southern city of Christchurch armed with military-grade semi-automatic guns.

He livestreamed the attack on Facebook via a headcam and also published a 74-page manifesto on extremist forums.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who gunned down 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019, has appealed challenging his convictions and jail time.

Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who gunned down 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019, has appealed challenging his convictions and jail time. Tarrant, who is now 32, was jailed for life without parole in 2020 after pleading guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and a terrorism charge. In New Zealand, the highest amount of punishment a convict can get is life imprisonment, as the country does not have the death penalty. According to the Guardian, Tarrant has filed his petition against his convictions and sentence in New Zealand’s court of appeal. His plea is currently being reviewed by the court as it was filed outside the legislated time frame. The grounds for appeal are not known, and the court is yet to decide on a hearing date. Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said he was attempting to "revictimise people". Watch | Survivors, family members of victims of Christchurch shooting share their pain “His is a name that shouldn't be repeated and I'm going to apply that same rule in commenting on his attempts to revictimise people. We should give him nothing,” Ardern told reporters. Her government, as a policy, refuses to name Tarrant in an attempt to deprive him of providing a platform to spread his extremist views. Tarrant, an Australian citizen, moved to New Zealand in 2017. Little is known about his past. On March 15, 2019, Tarrant stormed into two mosques in the southern city of Christchurch armed with military-grade semi-automatic guns. He livestreamed the attack on Facebook via a headcam and also published a 74-page manifesto on extremist forums. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

2019 Christchurch mosque attack: Gunman files appeal challenging his conviction, jail sentence

The Australian convict, Brenton Tarrant, who has been jailed for carrying out the Christchurch mosque massacres, is now planning to launch a legal challenge against the government.

Tarrant is unhappy with the condition of the jail and has requested a judicial review to see if the decisions have been made appropriately or not within the law.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christchurch-mosque-attacker-brenton-tarrant-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-323310">Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant sentenced to life without parole</a>

The convicted felon has decided to represent himself in a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Auckland. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment for 51 murders and one charge of terrorism.

The hearing will not be open to the media but the authorities have made clear that his new legal challenge will not affect his current life imprisonment sentence.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christchurch-attack-gunman-wanted-to-burn-down-the-two-mosques-court-told-322631">Christchurch attack: Gunman wanted to burn down the two mosques, court told</a>

Housed in Auckland jail, he is challenging decisions taken by the Department of Corrections regarding the conditions of his jail and is also questioning him being labelled as a “terrorist entity” under the Terrorism Suppression Act.

Tarrant, 29, had live-streamed the event while killing at least 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch. The judge called him "wicked" and "inhuman".

He had admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism after reversing not-guilty plea earlier. New Zealand does not have the death penalty.

The Australian convict, Brenton Tarrant, who has been jailed for carrying out the Christchurch mosque massacres, is now planning to launch a legal challenge against the government.

The Australian convict, Brenton Tarrant, who has been jailed for carrying out the Christchurch mosque massacres, is now planning to launch a legal challenge against the government. Tarrant is unhappy with the condition of the jail and has requested a judicial review to see if the decisions have been made appropriately or not within the law. Also read | Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant sentenced to life without parole The convicted felon has decided to represent himself in a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Auckland. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment for 51 murders and one charge of terrorism. The hearing will not be open to the media but the authorities have made clear that his new legal challenge will not affect his current life imprisonment sentence. Also read | Christchurch attack: Gunman wanted to burn down the two mosques, court told Housed in Auckland jail, he is challenging decisions taken by the Department of Corrections regarding the conditions of his jail and is also questioning him being labelled as a “terrorist entity” under the Terrorism Suppression Act. Tarrant, 29, had live-streamed the event while killing at least 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch. The judge called him "wicked" and "inhuman". He had admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism after reversing not-guilty plea earlier. New Zealand does not have the death penalty.

Christchurch mosque terrorist to launch legal action against New Zealand government

Today was the verdict day for the man who killed 51 people in a mosque shooting in New Zealand last year on March 15. The families of the victims, and the victims to managed to survive&nbsp;the carnage were present in the court for the four-days long hearing.

The shooter, Brenton Tarrant, has been sentenced to life in prison for killing&nbsp;51 people in cold blood while live streaming&nbsp;the act on Facebook for 17 minutes.

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The Christchurch shootings were beyond shocking. They showed the world how hatred and terror are amplified on social media. It was the deadliest mass shooting in the history of New Zealand.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/looking-at-new-zealands-response-to-christchurch-shootings-should-us-mend-their-gun-laws-323502">Also read|&nbsp;Looking at New Zealand's response to Christchurch shootings, should US mend their gun laws?</a>

Brenton Tarrant opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch. He entered while the Friday prayers were going on&nbsp;and opened fire on worshippers.

This week, the trial has concluded and it is safe to say that&nbsp;the four day sentencing hearing was a mere formality.

The verdict was foregone conclusion as the terrorist showed no guilt or remorse for what he had done.

He was charged with the murder of 51 people and the attempted murder of another 40 people. There was one charge of terrorism, and today he has been found guilty for all these counts.

Last year, in an admission to the police, Tarrant said he wished he had killed more people. He doctored the triggers to make his weapons fire faster and&nbsp;used a strobe light to blind his victims.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-should-thank-god-on-that-day-i-didnt-catch-you-christchurch-hero-confronts-killer-in-court-323343">Also read|&nbsp;'You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court</a>

Through this week, as he was being sentenced, Tarrant appeared emotionless and showed no remorse even when&nbsp;he was confronted by almost 90 victims.

In the last three days, many people came face-to-face with the man who killed their loved ones.&nbsp;The testimonies were moving and heartbreaking.

Maysoon Salama, who lost her son in the attack, faced the terrorist while holding back her tears and said,&nbsp;"I constantly try to imagine how my beloved ata felt at the moment of the attack, how he faced the shooter with his chest armed only with his courage like others. What was in his mind when he realised he is departing this life to his last journey? How is life going to be without him being around?

"May you get the severest punishment for your evil act in this life and in the hereafter, we know that allah is the most just.&nbsp;

"Ata is gone but never forgotten, he will always be the light of our lives and we will live his legacy everyday."

Justice Cameron Mander, the judge presiding over the hearings showed no mercy. and announced the first terrorism conviction in his country.

Since New Zealand does not have the death penalty as part of its justice system, Mander handed down the toughest sentence possible — a life sentence without the possibility of a parole.

"It is difficult to look beyond the wicked nature of each murder. And pain and suffering you have caused to individual victims, to their families and loved ones," Judge Mander said.

"It was brutal and beyond callous. Your actions were inhuman," he continued.

The victims and their families&nbsp;celebrated outside the court&nbsp; by raising their hands and fists, and greeting supporters with roses and signs painted with hearts.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she is relieved by the verdict.&nbsp;"Well this is, this has. This has been a crime in new zealand the likes of which have never occurred before. And now we've seen a sentence the likes of which we've seen before as well. But yes, it gave me relief, to know that that person will never see the light of day."

Today was the verdict day for the man who killed 51 people in a mosque shooting in New Zealand last year on March 15. The families of the victims, and the victims to managed to survive the carnage were present in the court for the four-days long hearing.

Today was the verdict day for the man who killed 51 people in a mosque shooting in New Zealand last year on March 15. The families of the victims, and the victims to managed to survive the carnage were present in the court for the four-days long hearing. The shooter, Brenton Tarrant, has been sentenced to life in prison for killing 51 people in cold blood while live streaming the act on Facebook for 17 minutes. The Christchurch shootings were beyond shocking. They showed the world how hatred and terror are amplified on social media. It was the deadliest mass shooting in the history of New Zealand. Also read| Looking at New Zealand's response to Christchurch shootings, should US mend their gun laws? Brenton Tarrant opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch. He entered while the Friday prayers were going on and opened fire on worshippers. This week, the trial has concluded and it is safe to say that the four day sentencing hearing was a mere formality. The verdict was foregone conclusion as the terrorist showed no guilt or remorse for what he had done. He was charged with the murder of 51 people and the attempted murder of another 40 people. There was one charge of terrorism, and today he has been found guilty for all these counts. Last year, in an admission to the police, Tarrant said he wished he had killed more people. He doctored the triggers to make his weapons fire faster and used a strobe light to blind his victims. Also read| 'You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court Through this week, as he was being sentenced, Tarrant appeared emotionless and showed no remorse even when he was confronted by almost 90 victims. In the last three days, many people came face-to-face with the man who killed their loved ones. The testimonies were moving and heartbreaking. Maysoon Salama, who lost her son in the attack, faced the terrorist while holding back her tears and said, "I constantly try to imagine how my beloved ata felt at the moment of the attack, how he faced the shooter with his chest armed only with his courage like others. What was in his mind when he realised he is departing this life to his last journey? How is life going to be without him being around? "May you get the severest punishment for your evil act in this life and in the hereafter, we know that allah is the most just. "Ata is gone but never forgotten, he will always be the light of our lives and we will live his legacy everyday." Justice Cameron Mander, the judge presiding over the hearings showed no mercy. and announced the first terrorism conviction in his country. Since New Zealand does not have the death penalty as part of its justice system, Mander handed down the toughest sentence possible — a life sentence without the possibility of a parole. "It is difficult to look beyond the wicked nature of each murder. And pain and suffering you have caused to individual victims, to their families and loved ones," Judge Mander said. "It was brutal and beyond callous. Your actions were inhuman," he continued. The victims and their families celebrated outside the court by raising their hands and fists, and greeting supporters with roses and signs painted with hearts. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she is relieved by the verdict. "Well this is, this has. This has been a crime in new zealand the likes of which have never occurred before. And now we've seen a sentence the likes of which we've seen before as well. But yes, it gave me relief, to know that that person will never see the light of day."

Justice prevails as Christchurch shooter jailed for life without parole

Australia's Prime Minister&nbsp;Scott&nbsp;Morrison&nbsp;said on Friday he was open to discussions over whether Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant, jailed for life without parole this week for the New Zealand mosque shootings, should serve his sentence in his home country.

He&nbsp;said he had received no request to transfer Tarrant but he was prepared to talk about the prospect with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-should-thank-god-on-that-day-i-didnt-catch-you-christchurch-hero-confronts-killer-in-court-323343" hreflang="en">'You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court</a>

''We'll have an open discussion and look at the issues around this,"&nbsp;Morrison&nbsp;said, adding that the views of the affected families would need to be considered first.

"I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want to see this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again.&nbsp;And I agree with that. Whether he's held in New Zealand or Australia."

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White supremacist Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life without parole on Thursday for the attacks on two mosques last year that killed 51 Muslim worshippers.

Tarrant, a former gym instructor from the rural New South Wales town of Grafton, moved to New Zealand in 2017 and immediately started planning an attack on the country's Muslim community.

While Australia and New Zealand have close visa arrangements, they do not have a prisoner transfer deal, creating a hurdle to any near-term change in Tarrant's imprisonment.

Special security measures for Tarrant are expected to cost taxpayers&nbsp;$2.4 million&nbsp;over two years, according to New Zealand government estimates.

Government documents&nbsp;say he is "likely to have needs and present risk at a level of severity beyond any" managed in New Zealand before.&nbsp;

The issue of Tarrant's nationality was raised several times during this week's sentencing hearings in Christchurch.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he was open to discussions over whether Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant, jailed for life without parole this week for the New Zealand mosque shootings, should serve his sentence in his home country.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he was open to discussions over whether Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant, jailed for life without parole this week for the New Zealand mosque shootings, should serve his sentence in his home country. He said he had received no request to transfer Tarrant but he was prepared to talk about the prospect with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern. Also read: 'You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court ''We'll have an open discussion and look at the issues around this," Morrison said, adding that the views of the affected families would need to be considered first. "I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want to see this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again. And I agree with that. Whether he's held in New Zealand or Australia." White supremacist Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life without parole on Thursday for the attacks on two mosques last year that killed 51 Muslim worshippers. Tarrant, a former gym instructor from the rural New South Wales town of Grafton, moved to New Zealand in 2017 and immediately started planning an attack on the country's Muslim community. While Australia and New Zealand have close visa arrangements, they do not have a prisoner transfer deal, creating a hurdle to any near-term change in Tarrant's imprisonment. Special security measures for Tarrant are expected to cost taxpayers $2.4 million over two years, according to New Zealand government estimates. Government documents say he is "likely to have needs and present risk at a level of severity beyond any" managed in New Zealand before. The issue of Tarrant's nationality was raised several times during this week's sentencing hearings in Christchurch.

Australian PM Scott Morrison 'open' to repatriating New Zealand mosque gunman

A New Zealand court has sentenced a man who killed 51 people at two mosques to life in prison without parole

News Alert: Brenton Tarrant given life term imprisonment without parole

Brenton Tarrant who attacked mosques in New Zealand last year was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christchurch-attack-gunman-wanted-to-burn-down-the-two-mosques-court-told-322631">Also Read:&nbsp;Christchurch attack: Gunman wanted to burn down the two mosques, court told</a>

Tarrant, 29, had live-streamed the event while killing at least 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch. The judge called him "wicked" and "inhuman".

"It is incumbent on the court to respond in a way that decisively rejects such vicious malevolence," judge Cameron Mander said.

He had admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism after reversing not-guilty plea earlier. New Zealand does not have the death penalty.

The verdict was announced after four days of hearing.

 
&nbsp;

Brenton Tarrant who attacked mosques in New Zealand last year was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday. Also Read: Christchurch attack: Gunman wanted to burn down the two mosques, court told Tarrant, 29, had live-streamed the event while killing at least 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch.

Brenton Tarrant who attacked mosques in New Zealand last year was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday. Also Read: Christchurch attack: Gunman wanted to burn down the two mosques, court told Tarrant, 29, had live-streamed the event while killing at least 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch. The judge called him "wicked" and "inhuman". "It is incumbent on the court to respond in a way that decisively rejects such vicious malevolence," judge Cameron Mander said. He had admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism after reversing not-guilty plea earlier. New Zealand does not have the death penalty. The verdict was announced after four days of hearing.

Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant sentenced to life without parole

A court in New Zealand is set to begin sentencing on Monday of an Australian man who murdered 51 Muslims as they prayed in the city of Christchurch last year.

New Zealand court set to sentence Christchurch mosque shooter

'Tarrant deserves a lifetime of complete silence', says NZ PM Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslim worshippers last year, has&nbsp;refused the right to speak at his sentencing, as per court officials said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

According to the officials, the 29-year-old Australian white supremacist had sacked his legal team earlier this year and had opted not to personally address the court, however, his lawyer will make a brief statement on his behalf on Thursday.&nbsp;

The massacre that took place last year, prompted a global campaign to stamp out online hate.&nbsp;

According to television footage, Tarrant disembarked a New Zealand air force plane at Christchurch Airport, wearing a protective vest and helmet and escorted by armed officers, before being directed into the back of a white van.&nbsp;

The court in Christchurch has begun multi-day sentencing on Monday, where survivors of the attack and family members of those killed have delivered victim impact statements.

In New Zealand, crimes like murder carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison, however, the judge can impose a life term without the possibility of release, a sentence never used in the country.&nbsp;

New Zealand mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslim worshippers last year, has refused the right to speak at his sentencing, as per court officials said on Wednesday.

New Zealand mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 Muslim worshippers last year, has refused the right to speak at his sentencing, as per court officials said on Wednesday. According to the officials, the 29-year-old Australian white supremacist had sacked his legal team earlier this year and had opted not to personally address the court, however, his lawyer will make a brief statement on his behalf on Thursday. The massacre that took place last year, prompted a global campaign to stamp out online hate. According to television footage, Tarrant disembarked a New Zealand air force plane at Christchurch Airport, wearing a protective vest and helmet and escorted by armed officers, before being directed into the back of a white van. The court in Christchurch has begun multi-day sentencing on Monday, where survivors of the attack and family members of those killed have delivered victim impact statements. In New Zealand, crimes like murder carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison, however, the judge can impose a life term without the possibility of release, a sentence never used in the country.

Christchurch mosque shooter  Brenton Tarrant will not speak at sentencing: Court officials

The hearing of Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant began in New Zealand as the court heard that the 29-year-old Australian national wanted to burn down the two mosques.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-shooter-arrives-in-christchurch-for-multi-day-sentencing-322579">Also Read:&nbsp;New Zealand mosque shooter arrives in Christchurch for multi-day sentencing</a>

Tarrant had carried out shootings and live-streamed the incident on March 15 last year in which &nbsp;51 people were killed. Tarrant has pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism. After the shooting, Tarrant was arrested as he tried to attack a third mosque in Ashburton.

Watch:

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The court was told that Tarrant who arrived in New Zeland in 2017 had started buying high-powered firearms in 2019 after he had got a firearms licence three years ago in the country.

Tarrant had collected at least 7000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres for the guns. Prosecutor Barnaby Hawes told the court that, "Tarrant admitted to police going into both mosques intending to kill as many people as he could."

"He further stated the attacks were motivated by his ideological beliefs and he intended to instil fear into those he described as 'invaders' including the Muslim population or more generally non-European immigrants," &nbsp;Hawes told the court.

"From this time, the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre became his primary targets to attack," the court was informed. In a &nbsp;26-page summary, Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes said that Tarrant had planned the time for entry when the maximum number of worshippers would be present.

Tarrant had Mossberg 930 semiautomatic 12 gauge shotgun along with Windham Weaponry .223 calibre MSSA rifle including other weapons.

The sentencing hearing will continue for four days.

The hearing of Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant began in New Zealand as the court heard that the 29-year-old Australian national wanted to burn down the two mosques.

The hearing of Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant began in New Zealand as the court heard that the 29-year-old Australian national wanted to burn down the two mosques. Also Read: New Zealand mosque shooter arrives in Christchurch for multi-day sentencing Tarrant had carried out shootings and live-streamed the incident on March 15 last year in which 51 people were killed. Tarrant has pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism. After the shooting, Tarrant was arrested as he tried to attack a third mosque in Ashburton. Watch: The court was told that Tarrant who arrived in New Zeland in 2017 had started buying high-powered firearms in 2019 after he had got a firearms licence three years ago in the country. Tarrant had collected at least 7000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres for the guns. Prosecutor Barnaby Hawes told the court that, "Tarrant admitted to police going into both mosques intending to kill as many people as he could." "He further stated the attacks were motivated by his ideological beliefs and he intended to instil fear into those he described as 'invaders' including the Muslim population or more generally non-European immigrants," Hawes told the court. "From this time, the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre became his primary targets to attack," the court was informed. In a 26-page summary, Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes said that Tarrant had planned the time for entry when the maximum number of worshippers would be present. Tarrant had Mossberg 930 semiautomatic 12 gauge shotgun along with Windham Weaponry .223 calibre MSSA rifle including other weapons. The sentencing hearing will continue for four days.

Christchurch attack: Gunman wanted to burn down the two mosques, court told

Brenton Tarrant, the shooter who killed 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand, is facing life in prison without parole.

New Zealand's first terrorism conviction | Christchurch Mosque shootings | World News

Nations must work together to stop lone wolf attackers, who take inspiration from each other, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-blames-russia-for-inf-pact-demise-vows-measured-response-240181&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjb3cb2gO7jAhVp_XMBHWeKDz0QFjAAegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw18_4lWqQw3eB7zT4p4f_vq">North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO)</a> secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, during a visit to a mosque in New Zealand where a gunman killed dozens of people in March.

His comments came as the United States reels from two mass shootings at the weekend that killed 29 people and injured dozens in Texas and Ohio, provoking calls for tighter gun controls and prompting worries over a resurgence of white nationalism and xenophobic politics. 
&nbsp; 
Stoltenberg, making a two-day trip to New Zealand, visited Christchurch, where 51 Muslim worshippers were killed in the attacks on two mosques by a suspected white supremacist.

"These attacks are committed by lone wolves but they are at the same time connected because they use each other as inspiration and they refer to each other in the different manifestos," Stoltenberg told state broadcaster TVNZ.

"It highlights that we have to fight terrorism in many different ways, with many different tools."

The Texas shooter who killed 20 people at a Walmart store expressed support for the Christchurch gunman in his manifesto.

New Zealand authorities have charged Australian Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, with murder following the attacks. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Society has to stand up for values of freedom, openness and tolerance, Stoltenberg said.

"We see that many of the terrorists are one of us," he said. "They are home-grown, they are coming from our own societies. So this is very much also about addressing the root causes."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is due to meet Stoltenberg on Tuesday, said New Zealand would only want to be remembered for the way it rejected the act of violence and hatred.

"This is a global challenge," she told a news conference later in the day.

"Of course we can do what we can to defeat acts of hatred, violence and racism in our own domestic areas. But, as an international community, we should also be united against acts of hatred, violence and terrorism."

Nations must work together to stop lone wolf attackers, who take inspiration from each other, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, during a visit to a mosque in New Zealand where a gunman killed dozens of people in March.

Nations must work together to stop lone wolf attackers, who take inspiration from each other, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, during a visit to a mosque in New Zealand where a gunman killed dozens of people in March. His comments came as the United States reels from two mass shootings at the weekend that killed 29 people and injured dozens in Texas and Ohio, provoking calls for tighter gun controls and prompting worries over a resurgence of white nationalism and xenophobic politics. Stoltenberg, making a two-day trip to New Zealand, visited Christchurch, where 51 Muslim worshippers were killed in the attacks on two mosques by a suspected white supremacist. "These attacks are committed by lone wolves but they are at the same time connected because they use each other as inspiration and they refer to each other in the different manifestos," Stoltenberg told state broadcaster TVNZ. "It highlights that we have to fight terrorism in many different ways, with many different tools." The Texas shooter who killed 20 people at a Walmart store expressed support for the Christchurch gunman in his manifesto. New Zealand authorities have charged Australian Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, with murder following the attacks. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Society has to stand up for values of freedom, openness and tolerance, Stoltenberg said. "We see that many of the terrorists are one of us," he said. "They are home-grown, they are coming from our own societies. So this is very much also about addressing the root causes." Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is due to meet Stoltenberg on Tuesday, said New Zealand would only want to be remembered for the way it rejected the act of violence and hatred. "This is a global challenge," she told a news conference later in the day. "Of course we can do what we can to defeat acts of hatred, violence and racism in our own domestic areas. But, as an international community, we should also be united against acts of hatred, violence and terrorism."

In order to stop lone wolf attackers, nations must unite:NATO chief

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple murder and terrorism charges.

Appearing in Christchurch High Court via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland, Brenton Tarrant sat silently as lawyer Shane Tait said his client pleaded "not guilty to all charges".

The self-proclaimed white supremacist has been charged with 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and engaging in a terrorist act over the March 15 atrocity in he South island city.

The 28-year-old Australian allegedly opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque.

The court heard that mental health assessments had found Tarrant was fit to stand trial for the worst massacre in modern New Zealand history.

About 80 survivors and relatives of those killed packed into the courthouse's public gallery for a glimpse of Tarrant.

Wearing a grey crewneck jersey, Tarrant smirked at times during the hearing.

Judge Cameron Mander set a trial date of May 4 next year, with Tait saying it was expected to last six weeks.

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple murder and terrorism charges. Appearing in Christchurch High Court via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland, Brenton Tarrant sat silently as lawyer Shane Tait said his client pleaded "not guilty to all charges".

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple murder and terrorism charges. Appearing in Christchurch High Court via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland, Brenton Tarrant sat silently as lawyer Shane Tait said his client pleaded "not guilty to all charges". The self-proclaimed white supremacist has been charged with 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and engaging in a terrorist act over the March 15 atrocity in he South island city. The 28-year-old Australian allegedly opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque. The court heard that mental health assessments had found Tarrant was fit to stand trial for the worst massacre in modern New Zealand history. About 80 survivors and relatives of those killed packed into the courthouse's public gallery for a glimpse of Tarrant. Wearing a grey crewneck jersey, Tarrant smirked at times during the hearing. Judge Cameron Mander set a trial date of May 4 next year, with Tait saying it was expected to last six weeks.

Not guilty to all charges, pleads Christchurch mosque attacker in New Zealand court

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-new-zealand-a-journey-around-the-world-and-into-darkness-203762">Suspected white supremacist Brenton Tarrant</a> is expected to enter pleas and will face a new terrorism charge when he appears in court on Friday over the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch.

In an attack on March 15 that was broadcast live on Facebook, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic weapons targeted Muslims attending Friday prayers in Christchurch, killing 51 worshippers and wounding dozens of people.

Tarrant already faces 50 counts of murder for the attack and when he appears in the Christchurch High Court on Friday will be charged under a terrorist act, the first time such a charge has been brought in New Zealand.

The police announced its plans to bring on terrorism charges and an additional murder charge last month.

A minute issued to the media by Christchurch High Court Judge Cameron Mander last week said Tarrant is expected to enter a plea to the charges.

Tarrant was not required to submit a plea in his last court appearance on April 5, as Judge Mander ordered he undergo mental assessment first to determine whether he was fit to stand trial.

The court has also lifted an order that required Tarrant's face to be suppressed, which forced media to only publish pixellated images that obscured his face.

"The Crown has advised there is no longer a need for the images of the defendant’s face to be suppressed and the order now lapses," the judge said in the minute released last week.

Tarrant, who is an Australian national, was remanded in custody after the shooting and moved to New Zealand's only maximum-security prison in Auckland. He would appear at the Christchurch High Court through a video link.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled New Zealand's worst peacetime mass shooting an act of terrorism and quickly introduced tough new firearm laws which banned semi-automatic weapons.

Muslims worldwide have praised New Zealand's response to the massacre, with many singling out Ardern's gesture of wearing a headscarf to meet victims' families and urging the country to unite with the call: "We are one".

But others have criticised New Zealand for failing to record hate crimes and ignoring threats from white supremacist groups. A Royal Commission is looking into whether the shooting could have been prevented.

Suspected white supremacist Brenton Tarrant is expected to enter pleas and will face a new terrorism charge when he appears in court on Friday over the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch.

Suspected white supremacist Brenton Tarrant is expected to enter pleas and will face a new terrorism charge when he appears in court on Friday over the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch. In an attack on March 15 that was broadcast live on Facebook, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic weapons targeted Muslims attending Friday prayers in Christchurch, killing 51 worshippers and wounding dozens of people. Tarrant already faces 50 counts of murder for the attack and when he appears in the Christchurch High Court on Friday will be charged under a terrorist act, the first time such a charge has been brought in New Zealand. The police announced its plans to bring on terrorism charges and an additional murder charge last month. A minute issued to the media by Christchurch High Court Judge Cameron Mander last week said Tarrant is expected to enter a plea to the charges. Tarrant was not required to submit a plea in his last court appearance on April 5, as Judge Mander ordered he undergo mental assessment first to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. The court has also lifted an order that required Tarrant's face to be suppressed, which forced media to only publish pixellated images that obscured his face. "The Crown has advised there is no longer a need for the images of the defendant’s face to be suppressed and the order now lapses," the judge said in the minute released last week. Tarrant, who is an Australian national, was remanded in custody after the shooting and moved to New Zealand's only maximum-security prison in Auckland. He would appear at the Christchurch High Court through a video link. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled New Zealand's worst peacetime mass shooting an act of terrorism and quickly introduced tough new firearm laws which banned semi-automatic weapons. Muslims worldwide have praised New Zealand's response to the massacre, with many singling out Ardern's gesture of wearing a headscarf to meet victims' families and urging the country to unite with the call: "We are one". But others have criticised New Zealand for failing to record hate crimes and ignoring threats from white supremacist groups. A Royal Commission is looking into whether the shooting could have been prevented.

New Zealand massacre suspect set to enter pleas, face new terrorism charge

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks was formally charged with terrorism for the first time on Tuesday, New Zealand police said.

In addition to the terror charge, Brenton Tarrant also faces 51 charges of murder and 40 of attempted murder over the March 15 attacks.

"The charge will allege that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-begins-judicial-inquiry-into-christchurch-mosque-shooting-218267">a terrorist act was carried out in Christchurch</a>," police said in a statement.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has characterised the mosque killings a well-planned "terrorist attack" since the day Tarrant, a self-described white supremacist, allegedly carried them out.

But until now the charges against him were less expansive, as New Zealand's Terrorism Suppression Act was only introduced in 2002 and is untested in the courts.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/this-could-have-been-us-survivor-of-christchurch-shooting-speaks-of-aftermath-204841/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

Police said the decision to lay the terror charge was made after consultations with prosecutors and government legal experts.

Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, is currently in a high-security prison undergoing tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial.

He next court appearance is scheduled for June 14.

Police said they had met survivors and victims' families Tuesday to explain the additional charges.

"Police are committed to providing all the support necessary for what will be a challenging and emotional court process to come for the victim’s families and survivors of the attack," they said.

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks was formally charged with terrorism for the first time on Tuesday, New Zealand police said.

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks was formally charged with terrorism for the first time on Tuesday, New Zealand police said. In addition to the terror charge, Brenton Tarrant also faces 51 charges of murder and 40 of attempted murder over the March 15 attacks. "The charge will allege that a terrorist act was carried out in Christchurch," police said in a statement. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has characterised the mosque killings a well-planned "terrorist attack" since the day Tarrant, a self-described white supremacist, allegedly carried them out. But until now the charges against him were less expansive, as New Zealand's Terrorism Suppression Act was only introduced in 2002 and is untested in the courts. Police said the decision to lay the terror charge was made after consultations with prosecutors and government legal experts. Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, is currently in a high-security prison undergoing tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial. He next court appearance is scheduled for June 14. Police said they had met survivors and victims' families Tuesday to explain the additional charges. "Police are committed to providing all the support necessary for what will be a challenging and emotional court process to come for the victim’s families and survivors of the attack," they said.

Christchurch attacker who killed 51 charged with terrorism: Police

The man accused of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/accused-christchurch-gunman-to-face-50-murder-charges-nz-police-207812">shooting dead 50 Muslim worshippers in a Christchurch mosque </a>sat impassively Friday as a New Zealand judge ordered him to undergo tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial for murder.

Survivors and relatives of those killed in the March 15 attacks packed into a Christchurch courtroom as alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant appeared via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland.

The 28-year-old Australian faces 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges over the shootings at two mosques, which shocked the world and rattled normally peaceful New Zealand.

High Court judge Cameron Mander ruled during the brief hearing that Tarrant would be examined by two health assessors to determine "whether he is fit to stand trial or insane".

The suspect -- a self-avowed white supremacist -- sat motionless throughout the hearing, listening intently to proceedings.&nbsp;

He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on June 14.

About 50 people were in the court's public gallery to catch a glimpse of the man charged with the deadliest massacre in modern New Zealand history.

While the public gallery could see Tarrant on screen, the position of the camera in court ensured his view from prison was restricted to the judge and lawyers.

For most, Tarrant's appearance on screen was the first chance to see the face of the man accused of gunning down their loved ones in cold blood.

Yama Nabi, whose 71-year-old father was killed, went to bear witness on behalf of his "heartbroken" family.&nbsp;

"I just wanted to see his face... it's not going to bring the loved ones back. I was like (he's a) coward," he told reporters outside the court.

'Didn't see emotion

Survivor Tofazzal Alam lay down in the Linwood mosque to avoid being shot during the attack and never saw the gunman up close.

"I wanted to see him because he killed so many of my friends. He looks crazy and it was very upsetting," he said after the hearing.

"I'm very upset to see him. He killed 50 people and he doesn't look like he's bothered. I didn't see any emotion on his face."

Ahead of the shooting, Tarrant posted a rambling manifesto on social media in which he identified himself by name and described himself as a white supremacist out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims.&nbsp;

He live-streamed himself as he opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque.

Tarrant was initially charged with one murder count as a holding measure when he made his first court appearance a day after the killings.&nbsp;

However, the charges were updated Friday to include the names of all 50 who were killed in the attack and 39 others who were wounded.

Tarrant had sacked a court-appointed lawyer after the initial court appearance, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a right-wing propaganda platform.

However, two Auckland lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, appeared in court Friday on his behalf.

Judge Mander barred media from filming or photographing proceedings and reiterated an existing ruling that Tarrant's face must be pixillated in images taken during his previous court appearance.

He also ordered the names of the 39 attempted murder victims to be suppressed, saying identifying them could hinder their recovery, and ruled a summary of the prosecution's allegations would not be made public as it contained sensitive information.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called the mosque killings a well-planned "terrorist attack" and taken immediate steps to tighten the country's gun laws.&nbsp;

The government has also said it will review laws dealing with hate speech and called for social media giants to do more to combat online extremism.

The latest update from health authorities earlier this week said 24 people remained in hospital after the attacks, four of them critical, including a four-year-old girl.

The man accused of shooting dead 50 Muslim worshippers in a Christchurch mosque sat impassively Friday as a New Zealand judge ordered him to undergo tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial for murder.

The man accused of shooting dead 50 Muslim worshippers in a Christchurch mosque sat impassively Friday as a New Zealand judge ordered him to undergo tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial for murder. Survivors and relatives of those killed in the March 15 attacks packed into a Christchurch courtroom as alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant appeared via audio-visual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland. The 28-year-old Australian faces 50 murder and 39 attempted murder charges over the shootings at two mosques, which shocked the world and rattled normally peaceful New Zealand. High Court judge Cameron Mander ruled during the brief hearing that Tarrant would be examined by two health assessors to determine "whether he is fit to stand trial or insane". The suspect -- a self-avowed white supremacist -- sat motionless throughout the hearing, listening intently to proceedings. He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on June 14. About 50 people were in the court's public gallery to catch a glimpse of the man charged with the deadliest massacre in modern New Zealand history. While the public gallery could see Tarrant on screen, the position of the camera in court ensured his view from prison was restricted to the judge and lawyers. For most, Tarrant's appearance on screen was the first chance to see the face of the man accused of gunning down their loved ones in cold blood. Yama Nabi, whose 71-year-old father was killed, went to bear witness on behalf of his "heartbroken" family. "I just wanted to see his face... it's not going to bring the loved ones back. I was like (he's a) coward," he told reporters outside the court. 'Didn't see emotion Survivor Tofazzal Alam lay down in the Linwood mosque to avoid being shot during the attack and never saw the gunman up close. "I wanted to see him because he killed so many of my friends. He looks crazy and it was very upsetting," he said after the hearing. "I'm very upset to see him. He killed 50 people and he doesn't look like he's bothered. I didn't see any emotion on his face." Ahead of the shooting, Tarrant posted a rambling manifesto on social media in which he identified himself by name and described himself as a white supremacist out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. He live-streamed himself as he opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers and then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque. Tarrant was initially charged with one murder count as a holding measure when he made his first court appearance a day after the killings. However, the charges were updated Friday to include the names of all 50 who were killed in the attack and 39 others who were wounded. Tarrant had sacked a court-appointed lawyer after the initial court appearance, raising fears he wanted to represent himself and attempt to use any trial as a right-wing propaganda platform. However, two Auckland lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, appeared in court Friday on his behalf. Judge Mander barred media from filming or photographing proceedings and reiterated an existing ruling that Tarrant's face must be pixillated in images taken during his previous court appearance. He also ordered the names of the 39 attempted murder victims to be suppressed, saying identifying them could hinder their recovery, and ruled a summary of the prosecution's allegations would not be made public as it contained sensitive information. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called the mosque killings a well-planned "terrorist attack" and taken immediate steps to tighten the country's gun laws. The government has also said it will review laws dealing with hate speech and called for social media giants to do more to combat online extremism. The latest update from health authorities earlier this week said 24 people remained in hospital after the attacks, four of them critical, including a four-year-old girl.

Judge orders psychiatric test for Christchurch shooting suspect

New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-shooting-call-to-prayer-two-minute-silence-honour-christchurch-victims-204749">accused Christchurch mosque shooter</a> at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, a self-avowed white supremacist, applied for the gun licence in September 2017 and a police "firearms vetting team" visited his home in the southern city of Dunedin the following month, a police spokesman said.

"One of the steps to gaining a firearms licence is a home visit to meet the applicant in person and inspect the security of their property," he said in a statement.

The police team carried out the visit in October, interviewing Tarrant and carrying out a "security inspection" of his home, he said.

"Following this, all the available information was reviewed and the licence was approved in November 2017."

Tarrant also provided the names of two New Zealand residents as references, who were also interviewed by police and "met the requirements of the process," he said, without identifying the two persons.

Authorities say Tarrant legally purchased a number of weapons in December 2017, including the two semi-automatic rifles, two shotguns and a lever-action firearm he used in the March 15 attacks on two Christchurch mosques that left 50 people dead and 50 injured.

Tarrant was arrested as he tried to pursue the attacks and has been charged with murder.

Six days after the attack, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced an immediate ban on military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles, as well as other materials which can be used to modify firearms to make them deadlier.

New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage.

New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage. Australian Brenton Tarrant, a self-avowed white supremacist, applied for the gun licence in September 2017 and a police "firearms vetting team" visited his home in the southern city of Dunedin the following month, a police spokesman said. "One of the steps to gaining a firearms licence is a home visit to meet the applicant in person and inspect the security of their property," he said in a statement. The police team carried out the visit in October, interviewing Tarrant and carrying out a "security inspection" of his home, he said. "Following this, all the available information was reviewed and the licence was approved in November 2017." Tarrant also provided the names of two New Zealand residents as references, who were also interviewed by police and "met the requirements of the process," he said, without identifying the two persons. Authorities say Tarrant legally purchased a number of weapons in December 2017, including the two semi-automatic rifles, two shotguns and a lever-action firearm he used in the March 15 attacks on two Christchurch mosques that left 50 people dead and 50 injured. Tarrant was arrested as he tried to pursue the attacks and has been charged with murder. Six days after the attack, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced an immediate ban on military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles, as well as other materials which can be used to modify firearms to make them deadlier.

New Zealand police visited mosque shooter before granting gun licence

New Zealand on Thursday banned assault rifles, semi-automatic rifles, high-capacity magazines, and parts that convert guns into military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles. &nbsp;

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after last Friday's attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bullet-riddled-new-zealand-mosque-to-reopen-for-friday-prayers-more-victims-buried-204613">left 50 people dead</a>.&nbsp;

A 28-year-old Australian and white supremacist had walked up to the Al Noor mosque and started shooting with automatic rifles. He then drove away, walked up to a second mosque — the Linwood mosque — and started shooting again. He used a total of five rifles.&nbsp;

The youngest of his victims was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-mosque-attacks-youngest-victim-was-3-years-old-say-families-203805">three years old</a>, the families of the dead said. &nbsp;

"Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military-style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand," Reuters quoted Ardern as saying on Thursday.

“Related parts used to convert these guns into MSSAs are also being banned, along with all high-capacity magazines," she added.&nbsp;

Ardern has come in for tremendous praise for her handling of the crisis — the worst mass shooting in her country's history.&nbsp;

She has refused to name the terrorist who carried out the shootings, saying he should not be given the fame he desired. She has called the massacre a terrorist attack, and offered consolation to New Zealand's Muslim communities.&nbsp;

"New Zealand is their home... They are us," she had said.&nbsp;

When US President Donald Trump called her after the attacks, offering to help, Ardern, who is 38,&nbsp;said he could by offering "love and compassion" to Muslim communities all over the world.&nbsp;

And she promptly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-pm-vows-gun-reforms-after-racist-mosque-massacre-203623">vowed gun reform</a>.&nbsp;

New Zealanders have followed her lead, placing flowers and cards at memorial sites for the dead and offering innumerable hakas — the ceremonial Maori dance — <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-man-performs-emotional-haka-dance-to-pay-tribute-to-new-zealand-mosque-shooting-victims-204322">to remember the dead</a>.&nbsp;

Ardern has also asked that attention not be directed at her but at the victims.&nbsp;

New Zealand on Thursday banned assault rifles, semi-automatic rifles, high-capacity magazines, and parts that convert guns into military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles.

New Zealand on Thursday banned assault rifles, semi-automatic rifles, high-capacity magazines, and parts that convert guns into military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) rifles. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after last Friday's attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch left 50 people dead. A 28-year-old Australian and white supremacist had walked up to the Al Noor mosque and started shooting with automatic rifles. He then drove away, walked up to a second mosque — the Linwood mosque — and started shooting again. He used a total of five rifles. The youngest of his victims was three years old, the families of the dead said. "Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military-style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand," Reuters quoted Ardern as saying on Thursday. “Related parts used to convert these guns into MSSAs are also being banned, along with all high-capacity magazines," she added. Ardern has come in for tremendous praise for her handling of the crisis — the worst mass shooting in her country's history. She has refused to name the terrorist who carried out the shootings, saying he should not be given the fame he desired. She has called the massacre a terrorist attack, and offered consolation to New Zealand's Muslim communities. "New Zealand is their home... They are us," she had said. When US President Donald Trump called her after the attacks, offering to help, Ardern, who is 38, said he could by offering "love and compassion" to Muslim communities all over the world. And she promptly vowed gun reform. New Zealanders have followed her lead, placing flowers and cards at memorial sites for the dead and offering innumerable hakas — the ceremonial Maori dance — to remember the dead. Ardern has also asked that attention not be directed at her but at the victims.

New Zealand bans assault, semi-automatic rifles after mosque massacre leaves 50 dead

A 44-year-old man has become the second person charged with sharing a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christchurch-teenager-charged-with-distributing-mosque-rampage-livestream-204041">gruesome livestream video of the deadly attack at a Christchurch mosque</a>, as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for a global response to the dangers of social media.

Philip Arps, 44, was arrested by New Zealand Police on Tuesday, four days after 28-year-old Australian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-six-bodies-of-christchurch-massacre-victims-released-to-their-families-after-delay-204318">Brenton Tarrant went on a rampage at two mosques</a> in the southern city, killing 50 people and wounding dozens more.

The livestream video was shot by Tarrant, who is facing one initial charge of murder for the killings at Al Noor and Linwood mosques.

Arps was charged with two counts of distributing objectionable material under the Films Act and was remanded in custody after appearing in Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.

Arps, who is due back in court on April 15, has attracted controversy for owning a company with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hate-crimes-white-supremacist-groups-existed-in-new-zealands-christchruch-report-204349">Nazi-themed branding</a>. The firm's logo is a sun wheel, which was appropriated by the Nazis.

A teenager appeared in court earlier this week on the same charge.

Facebook said the livestream was viewed fewer than 200 times but it has had to remove a staggering 1.5 million videos as footage of the slaughter went viral.

Ardern said Wednesday that while her focus was on the people of New Zealand, there were issues world leaders needed to confront collectively.

"We cannot, for instance, just simply deal with some of the issues we face with our social media to be dealt with on a case by case basis," she said.&nbsp;

"There is an argument there to be made for us to take a united front on a global issue.

"This is not just an issue for New Zealand, the fact that social media platforms have been used to spread violence (and) material that incites violence. All of us need to present a united front."

Arps' court appearance came as the first funerals of the victims were held, with more expected to take place later Wednesday and on Thursday as officials release the victims' bodies to their families.

A 44-year-old man has become the second person charged with sharing a gruesome livestream video of the deadly attack at a Christchurch mosque, as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for a global response to the dangers of social media.

A 44-year-old man has become the second person charged with sharing a gruesome livestream video of the deadly attack at a Christchurch mosque, as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for a global response to the dangers of social media. Philip Arps, 44, was arrested by New Zealand Police on Tuesday, four days after 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant went on a rampage at two mosques in the southern city, killing 50 people and wounding dozens more. The livestream video was shot by Tarrant, who is facing one initial charge of murder for the killings at Al Noor and Linwood mosques. Arps was charged with two counts of distributing objectionable material under the Films Act and was remanded in custody after appearing in Christchurch District Court on Wednesday. Arps, who is due back in court on April 15, has attracted controversy for owning a company with Nazi-themed branding. The firm's logo is a sun wheel, which was appropriated by the Nazis. A teenager appeared in court earlier this week on the same charge. Facebook said the livestream was viewed fewer than 200 times but it has had to remove a staggering 1.5 million videos as footage of the slaughter went viral. Ardern said Wednesday that while her focus was on the people of New Zealand, there were issues world leaders needed to confront collectively. "We cannot, for instance, just simply deal with some of the issues we face with our social media to be dealt with on a case by case basis," she said. "There is an argument there to be made for us to take a united front on a global issue. "This is not just an issue for New Zealand, the fact that social media platforms have been used to spread violence (and) material that incites violence. All of us need to present a united front." Arps' court appearance came as the first funerals of the victims were held, with more expected to take place later Wednesday and on Thursday as officials release the victims' bodies to their families.

Christchurch  mass shooting: New Zealand police charge second man with sharing livestream of massacre

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn a sharp rebuke from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealanders-begin-to-give-up-guns-after-mosque-attacks-204219">New Zealand</a> for using controversial video shot by the Christchurch mosque gunman as an election campaign prop.

Erdogan, campaigning for local elections this month, has presented the attack as part of an assault on Turkey and Islam more broadly and projected the video of the killings at his rallies over the weekend.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters protested on Monday that such politicisation of the massacre "imperils the future and safety of the New Zealand people and our people abroad, and it's totally unfair".

Peters announced on Tuesday that he would be travelling to Turkey this week at Istanbul's request to attend a special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Three Turkish nationals were wounded in the rampage, that killed 50 worshippers at two mosques in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday.

The accused gunman, a self-avowed white supremacist from Australia, livestreamed video of much of the attack and spread a 72-page manifesto on social media claiming it was a strike against Muslim "invaders".

The manifesto references Turkey and the minarets of Istanbul's famed Hagia Sophia, now a museum, that was once a church before becoming a mosque during the Ottoman empire. 
New Zealand authorities moved quickly to try and stop the spread of the shooter's video, warning that anyone sharing the footage faced prosecution, and Facebook removed the images from hundreds of thousands of its pages.

But at weekend campaign events, Erdogan projected the video and repeatedly referenced the attack, which he portrayed as a sign of rising Islamophobia that the West has ignored.

"This is not an isolated event, it is something more organised," he said during a campaign event on Monday in Canakkale in western Turkey.

"They are testing us with the message they are sending us from New Zealand, 16,500 km (10,250 miles) from here." Erdogan did not project the video at the Monday event.

Peters said he had complained directly to visiting Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"We made it very clear that we oppose terrorism in whatever shape and form it might be and that we are for a free and open society," Peters said he told the Turkish officials.

"We had a long dialogue on the need for any other country, or Turkey for that matter, to ensure that our country, New Zealand, was not misrepresented," he told a press conference.

"We did not start or bring about this disaster and they clearly understood that," he said. 
Speaking Tuesday of the upcoming OIC meeting in Istanbul, Peters said: "This important event will allow New Zealand to join with our partners in standing against terrorism and speaking up for values such as understanding and religious tolerance."

"We are very clear that the terrorist attack in Christchurch, committed by a person who is not a New Zealander, is utterly contrary to our core beliefs," he said.&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn a sharp rebuke from New Zealand for using controversial video shot by the Christchurch mosque gunman as an election campaign prop.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn a sharp rebuke from New Zealand for using controversial video shot by the Christchurch mosque gunman as an election campaign prop. Erdogan, campaigning for local elections this month, has presented the attack as part of an assault on Turkey and Islam more broadly and projected the video of the killings at his rallies over the weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters protested on Monday that such politicisation of the massacre "imperils the future and safety of the New Zealand people and our people abroad, and it's totally unfair". Peters announced on Tuesday that he would be travelling to Turkey this week at Istanbul's request to attend a special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Three Turkish nationals were wounded in the rampage, that killed 50 worshippers at two mosques in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday. The accused gunman, a self-avowed white supremacist from Australia, livestreamed video of much of the attack and spread a 72-page manifesto on social media claiming it was a strike against Muslim "invaders". The manifesto references Turkey and the minarets of Istanbul's famed Hagia Sophia, now a museum, that was once a church before becoming a mosque during the Ottoman empire. New Zealand authorities moved quickly to try and stop the spread of the shooter's video, warning that anyone sharing the footage faced prosecution, and Facebook removed the images from hundreds of thousands of its pages. But at weekend campaign events, Erdogan projected the video and repeatedly referenced the attack, which he portrayed as a sign of rising Islamophobia that the West has ignored. "This is not an isolated event, it is something more organised," he said during a campaign event on Monday in Canakkale in western Turkey. "They are testing us with the message they are sending us from New Zealand, 16,500 km (10,250 miles) from here." Erdogan did not project the video at the Monday event. Peters said he had complained directly to visiting Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "We made it very clear that we oppose terrorism in whatever shape and form it might be and that we are for a free and open society," Peters said he told the Turkish officials. "We had a long dialogue on the need for any other country, or Turkey for that matter, to ensure that our country, New Zealand, was not misrepresented," he told a press conference. "We did not start or bring about this disaster and they clearly understood that," he said. Speaking Tuesday of the upcoming OIC meeting in Istanbul, Peters said: "This important event will allow New Zealand to join with our partners in standing against terrorism and speaking up for values such as understanding and religious tolerance." "We are very clear that the terrorist attack in Christchurch, committed by a person who is not a New Zealander, is utterly contrary to our core beliefs," he said.

Erdogan uses mosque shooter video in campaign, New Zealand says 'totally unfair'

US President Donald Trump has said the media is "working overtime to blame me" for the New Zealand mosque attacks.&nbsp;

The attacks on the two mosques last Friday in Christchurch have left 50 people dead.&nbsp;

Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, had walked up to the first mosque and started shooting with automatic rifles. He then drove away, walked up to a second mosque and started shooting again.&nbsp;

The youngest of his victims was three years old.&nbsp;

In his 73-page manifesto released just before he live-streamed his attack, Tarrant wrote that he supported <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kellyanne-conways-husband-says-trump-suffers-from-narcissistic-personality-disorder-204200">Trump</a> "as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose" but not as a "policymaker and leader."&nbsp;

His manifesto meanwhile expressed extreme anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views.&nbsp;

While Trump has condemned the attacks on the mosques, he has not condemned white nationalism.&nbsp;

"I don`t really think so. I think it`s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems," Trump said when he was asked whether he thought there had been a rise of white nationalism.&nbsp;

"The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous!" Trump tweeted on Monday.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1107637405010530305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The White House has since rejected claims that Trump backs&nbsp;white nationalist views.&nbsp;

"The president is not a white supremacist. I`m not sure how many times we have to say that," acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on "Fox News Sunday".&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

US President Donald Trump has said the media is "working overtime to blame me" for the New Zealand mosque attacks. The attacks on the two mosques last Friday in Christchurch have left 50 people dead.

US President Donald Trump has said the media is "working overtime to blame me" for the New Zealand mosque attacks. The attacks on the two mosques last Friday in Christchurch have left 50 people dead. Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, had walked up to the first mosque and started shooting with automatic rifles. He then drove away, walked up to a second mosque and started shooting again. The youngest of his victims was three years old. In his 73-page manifesto released just before he live-streamed his attack, Tarrant wrote that he supported Trump "as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose" but not as a "policymaker and leader." His manifesto meanwhile expressed extreme anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views. While Trump has condemned the attacks on the mosques, he has not condemned white nationalism. "I don`t really think so. I think it`s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems," Trump said when he was asked whether he thought there had been a rise of white nationalism. "The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous!" Trump tweeted on Monday. The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2019 × The White House has since rejected claims that Trump backs white nationalist views. "The president is not a white supremacist. I`m not sure how many times we have to say that," acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on "Fox News Sunday". (With inputs from ANI)

Media 'working overtime to blame me' for New Zealand mosque attacks: Trump

A lone gunman in New Zealand opened fire in Christchurch city this week. The gunman targeted two mosques killing fifty Muslim worshippers praying inside.

The latest mass shooting incident has put the spotlight on white supremacist groups' existence and how it is on the rise in the country which is mostly known for being one of&nbsp;the world's safest and tolerant countries.

According to a report by Associated Press, such hate crimes and Islamophobia have existed in the city long before this incident and now are on the rise. However such groups have&nbsp;relatively been quite in the city since the 2011 earthquake.

"They've been quieter recently but they haven't gone away. They are still here," &nbsp;an Academic Paul Spoonley said, citing a 2016 incident in which pigs' heads were left at the Al Noor mosque, one of the mosques where Australian Brenton Tarrant opened fire on March 15.

According to the report, Muslim communities living in the country have experienced verbal abuse, assaults, hate emails, phone calls but the local authorities have failed to take appropriate measures to tackle the issue.

The country does not even have an official hate crimes database which makes it difficult to measure the trend, the report claimed.

The report further quoted Spoonley saying that the level of hate crimes in New Zealand is low compared with other countries as is the number of white supremacists, but it’s "always a challenge to get people to accept that they exist."

"There’s a reluctance to see equivalence between the risks presented by right-wing extremist groups and radical Islamic and leftist groups," he said.

According to the estimates by Spoonley mentioned in the report, there are 200-250 hardcore white supremacists in New Zealand and about 300-400 people on the edges.

Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian&nbsp;started shooting with automatic rifles on March 15. He then drove away to second mosque and started shooting again.

The majority of victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The youngest was a three-year-old boy, born in New Zealand to Somali refugee parents.

In his 73-page manifesto released just before he live-streamed his attack, Tarrant who was captured by police expressed extreme anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views.&nbsp;

Following Tarrant's arrest, New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern informed in the parliament that he has been charged with one count of murder and assured and other charges would also follow.

"He will face the full force of the law in New Zealand," she said.

Ardern also has promised reforms to New Zealand gun laws which allowed Tarrant to legally purchase the weapons he used in the attack, including semi-automatic rifles.

And she announced a full review of how the Australian -- an avowed white supremacist -- was able to plan and carry out the attacks in New Zealand under the radar of security services.

(With inputs from news agencies)

A lone gunman in New Zealand opened fire in Christchurch city this week. The gunman targeted two mosques killing fifty Muslim worshippers praying inside. The latest mass shooting incident has put the spotlight on white supremacist groups' existence and how it is on the rise in the country which is mostly known for being one of the world's safest and tolerant countries.

A lone gunman in New Zealand opened fire in Christchurch city this week. The gunman targeted two mosques killing fifty Muslim worshippers praying inside. The latest mass shooting incident has put the spotlight on white supremacist groups' existence and how it is on the rise in the country which is mostly known for being one of the world's safest and tolerant countries. According to a report by Associated Press, such hate crimes and Islamophobia have existed in the city long before this incident and now are on the rise. However such groups have relatively been quite in the city since the 2011 earthquake. "They've been quieter recently but they haven't gone away. They are still here," an Academic Paul Spoonley said, citing a 2016 incident in which pigs' heads were left at the Al Noor mosque, one of the mosques where Australian Brenton Tarrant opened fire on March 15. According to the report, Muslim communities living in the country have experienced verbal abuse, assaults, hate emails, phone calls but the local authorities have failed to take appropriate measures to tackle the issue. The country does not even have an official hate crimes database which makes it difficult to measure the trend, the report claimed. The report further quoted Spoonley saying that the level of hate crimes in New Zealand is low compared with other countries as is the number of white supremacists, but it’s "always a challenge to get people to accept that they exist." "There’s a reluctance to see equivalence between the risks presented by right-wing extremist groups and radical Islamic and leftist groups," he said. According to the estimates by Spoonley mentioned in the report, there are 200-250 hardcore white supremacists in New Zealand and about 300-400 people on the edges. Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian started shooting with automatic rifles on March 15. He then drove away to second mosque and started shooting again. The majority of victims were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The youngest was a three-year-old boy, born in New Zealand to Somali refugee parents. In his 73-page manifesto released just before he live-streamed his attack, Tarrant who was captured by police expressed extreme anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim views. Following Tarrant's arrest, New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern informed in the parliament that he has been charged with one count of murder and assured and other charges would also follow. "He will face the full force of the law in New Zealand," she said. Ardern also has promised reforms to New Zealand gun laws which allowed Tarrant to legally purchase the weapons he used in the attack, including semi-automatic rifles. And she announced a full review of how the Australian -- an avowed white supremacist -- was able to plan and carry out the attacks in New Zealand under the radar of security services. (With inputs from news agencies)

Hate crimes, white supremacist groups have existed in New Zealand's Christchurch: Report

As Facebook and YouTube work to take down videos of Friday's terrorist killings that left 50 dead in New Zealand, white supremacists are finding new ways to keep the content alive.

Video attributed to the alleged shooter, 28-year-old Brenton <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-watchdog-to-probe-broadcast-of-new-zealand-gunman-livestream-203993">Tarrant, broadcast the Christchurch mosque attack live on Facebook</a>, with images of men, women and children being gunned down. The video spread quickly via popular sites like YouTube - and then kept popping up in other parts of the internet even as mainstream sites tried to delete it, Dow Jones Newswires reported on Sunday in an article made available to EFE.

Those other places include 8chan, an online message board that describes itself as "the darkest reaches of the internet." Users can post images or discussions anonymously, and anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic material is widespread on the site. On a number of threads created Saturday, unnamed people shared the video and linked to archived versions.

New Zealand police on Sunday said the country's chief censor's office forbade the video's distribution or possession under penalty of imprisonment.

Some users edited and embellished the video, attempting to mimic videogames designed from the point of the view of gun-wielding characters. One version was edited to include sound effects during the times when Tarrant fired his gun and graphics of bullets and other tools when he changed weapons. Another video added fast-paced background music.

Users also uploaded the suspect's hate-filled manifesto, which he had posted online. In it, Tarrant demonized immigrants to Western countries and called for revenge against Muslims. In multiple threads, users discussed how to keep the manifesto in circulation online by converting it into shareable images and storing them in multiple places.

"Take this, copy it, repost it, and share it," one anonymous person said. "This needs to be shared far and wide."

The efforts to preserve and propagate the suspect's ideas online show how supporters of extremist ideologies manipulate digital tools to thwart efforts by governments and tech companies to clamp down on hateful content. They often do so through "imageboards," like 8chan, that cast themselves as havens of free speech but draw criticism for spreading hate speech or pornography.

Videos of the Christchurch shooting have also circulated on sites such as 4Chan and Gab, popular among right-wing extremists and free-speech absolutists.

A statement on 8chan's official Twitter account said it was "responding to law enforcement regarding the recent incident where many websites were used by a criminal to publicize his crime." It said it always complies with U.S. law and wouldn't comment further.

New Zealand internet service provider Spark NZ voluntarily suspended access to 8chan and other sites hosting the footage of the shootings, a Spark spokeswoman said.

The 8chan site, owned by American businessman Jim Watkins, also says all posts are the responsibility of the individual poster. It sells ads through a self-serve platform, in which buyers can purchase ads on specific message boards, according to its website.

Pages where users shared footage of the Christchurch shooting, as well as links to additional footage and copies of Tarrant's manifesto, featured ads promoting other pages on 8chan, as well as adult content and private browsing services. Launched in 2013, 8chan gained popularity after its predecessor 4chan clamped down on threads related to videogame-industry controversy Gamergate.

The internet infrastructure for 8chan is in part provided by San Francisco-based Cloudflare, according to an examination of the site. Cloudflare's technology helps websites protect themselves from the floods of hacker traffic that can knock websites offline in so-called denial of service attacks.

Cloudflare's head of policy, Alissa Starzak, declined to confirm Cloudflare's business relationship with 8chan or other sites that haven't removed shooting footage. She said the company regularly cooperates with law-enforcement officials who want to know who is a hosting a particular site - because only the host, not Cloudflare, would be able to take the site down.

Cloudflare has faced criticism for its willingness to support websites promoting any content or mission, including those run by neo-Nazis. Cloudflare has said it wasn't its duty to police content. In 2017, it made a notable exception by ceasing service to the Daily Stormer, a bulletin board for self-proclaimed white supremacists, after the site began claiming that Cloudflare secretly supported its ideology.

Social-media platforms such as 8chan that don't police content have in the past faced service denials for preserving content tied to acts of violence. Hours after last year's shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, Gab.com, the right-wing social-media platform where the alleged shooter had posted anti-Semitic messages, lost the partners that kept it running, including hosting, domain-registration and payment-processing services.

A Facebook Inc. spokeswoman said the company removed the video of the mosque shootings after New Zealand police flagged it and deleted the Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to the alleged shooter. Companies like Facebook and YouTube, a unit of Alphabet Inc.'s Google, are under pressure for failing to respond fast enough and for serving as a platform for terrorists.

In tweets on Sunday, Facebook said it removed 1.5 million videos of the attack in the first 24 hours, and that it is also removing edited versions that don't show graphic content.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Sunday his government "will be seeking to get assurances from the social-media companies about their capability to ensure that this [live streaming] tool cannot be used by terrorists."

Tarrant was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, and police said further charges will follow. He was remanded into custody following a brief appearance in court on Saturday but wasn't required to enter a plea.

Tarrant had announced Friday's attack beforehand on 8chan, and exhorted others to spread his message. The 17-minute video that followed shows a shooter walking through a mosque and firing at worshipers huddled in corners.

In his manifesto, Tarrant hailed the way in which some websites have eroded mainstream media's control of information. "Once the corporate and state medias grip on the zeitgeist of modernity was finally broken by the internet, true freedom of thought and discussion flourished," he wrote.

New threads on 8chan on Saturday were titled "Hero Tarrant" and "Brenton Tarrant Files." One thread on "production values" was devoted to a discussion on whether Tarrant made the best use of body-mounted video cameras or if the video quality could be better for "future performers." Another critiqued his strategy and use of weapons, with a comment saying a man who had tried to tackle Tarrant during the attack had "almost ruined Tarrant's KDR," a reference to Kill-Death Ratios in videogames.

As Facebook and YouTube work to take down videos of Friday's terrorist killings that left 50 dead in New Zealand, white supremacists are finding new ways to keep the content alive.

As Facebook and YouTube work to take down videos of Friday's terrorist killings that left 50 dead in New Zealand, white supremacists are finding new ways to keep the content alive. Video attributed to the alleged shooter, 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant, broadcast the Christchurch mosque attack live on Facebook, with images of men, women and children being gunned down. The video spread quickly via popular sites like YouTube - and then kept popping up in other parts of the internet even as mainstream sites tried to delete it, Dow Jones Newswires reported on Sunday in an article made available to EFE. Those other places include 8chan, an online message board that describes itself as "the darkest reaches of the internet." Users can post images or discussions anonymously, and anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic material is widespread on the site. On a number of threads created Saturday, unnamed people shared the video and linked to archived versions. New Zealand police on Sunday said the country's chief censor's office forbade the video's distribution or possession under penalty of imprisonment. Some users edited and embellished the video, attempting to mimic videogames designed from the point of the view of gun-wielding characters. One version was edited to include sound effects during the times when Tarrant fired his gun and graphics of bullets and other tools when he changed weapons. Another video added fast-paced background music. Users also uploaded the suspect's hate-filled manifesto, which he had posted online. In it, Tarrant demonized immigrants to Western countries and called for revenge against Muslims. In multiple threads, users discussed how to keep the manifesto in circulation online by converting it into shareable images and storing them in multiple places. "Take this, copy it, repost it, and share it," one anonymous person said. "This needs to be shared far and wide." The efforts to preserve and propagate the suspect's ideas online show how supporters of extremist ideologies manipulate digital tools to thwart efforts by governments and tech companies to clamp down on hateful content. They often do so through "imageboards," like 8chan, that cast themselves as havens of free speech but draw criticism for spreading hate speech or pornography. Videos of the Christchurch shooting have also circulated on sites such as 4Chan and Gab, popular among right-wing extremists and free-speech absolutists. A statement on 8chan's official Twitter account said it was "responding to law enforcement regarding the recent incident where many websites were used by a criminal to publicize his crime." It said it always complies with U.S. law and wouldn't comment further. New Zealand internet service provider Spark NZ voluntarily suspended access to 8chan and other sites hosting the footage of the shootings, a Spark spokeswoman said. The 8chan site, owned by American businessman Jim Watkins, also says all posts are the responsibility of the individual poster. It sells ads through a self-serve platform, in which buyers can purchase ads on specific message boards, according to its website. Pages where users shared footage of the Christchurch shooting, as well as links to additional footage and copies of Tarrant's manifesto, featured ads promoting other pages on 8chan, as well as adult content and private browsing services. Launched in 2013, 8chan gained popularity after its predecessor 4chan clamped down on threads related to videogame-industry controversy Gamergate. The internet infrastructure for 8chan is in part provided by San Francisco-based Cloudflare, according to an examination of the site. Cloudflare's technology helps websites protect themselves from the floods of hacker traffic that can knock websites offline in so-called denial of service attacks. Cloudflare's head of policy, Alissa Starzak, declined to confirm Cloudflare's business relationship with 8chan or other sites that haven't removed shooting footage. She said the company regularly cooperates with law-enforcement officials who want to know who is a hosting a particular site - because only the host, not Cloudflare, would be able to take the site down. Cloudflare has faced criticism for its willingness to support websites promoting any content or mission, including those run by neo-Nazis. Cloudflare has said it wasn't its duty to police content. In 2017, it made a notable exception by ceasing service to the Daily Stormer, a bulletin board for self-proclaimed white supremacists, after the site began claiming that Cloudflare secretly supported its ideology. Social-media platforms such as 8chan that don't police content have in the past faced service denials for preserving content tied to acts of violence. Hours after last year's shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, Gab.com, the right-wing social-media platform where the alleged shooter had posted anti-Semitic messages, lost the partners that kept it running, including hosting, domain-registration and payment-processing services. A Facebook Inc. spokeswoman said the company removed the video of the mosque shootings after New Zealand police flagged it and deleted the Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to the alleged shooter. Companies like Facebook and YouTube, a unit of Alphabet Inc.'s Google, are under pressure for failing to respond fast enough and for serving as a platform for terrorists. In tweets on Sunday, Facebook said it removed 1.5 million videos of the attack in the first 24 hours, and that it is also removing edited versions that don't show graphic content. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Sunday his government "will be seeking to get assurances from the social-media companies about their capability to ensure that this [live streaming] tool cannot be used by terrorists." Tarrant was charged with one count of murder on Saturday, and police said further charges will follow. He was remanded into custody following a brief appearance in court on Saturday but wasn't required to enter a plea. Tarrant had announced Friday's attack beforehand on 8chan, and exhorted others to spread his message. The 17-minute video that followed shows a shooter walking through a mosque and firing at worshipers huddled in corners. In his manifesto, Tarrant hailed the way in which some websites have eroded mainstream media's control of information. "Once the corporate and state medias grip on the zeitgeist of modernity was finally broken by the internet, true freedom of thought and discussion flourished," he wrote. New threads on 8chan on Saturday were titled "Hero Tarrant" and "Brenton Tarrant Files." One thread on "production values" was devoted to a discussion on whether Tarrant made the best use of body-mounted video cameras or if the video quality could be better for "future performers." Another critiqued his strategy and use of weapons, with a comment saying a man who had tried to tackle Tarrant during the attack had "almost ruined Tarrant's KDR," a reference to Kill-Death Ratios in videogames.

New Zealand massacre video clings to the internet's dark corners

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