Tag: Christchurch

Anger erupts with NZ mosque shooting suspect’s demeanor as lawyers enter “not guilty” plea for him

  THE lawyers of the man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks entered not guilty pleas for their client to charges of terrorism, multiple murder and attempted murder in a hearing attended by survivors of the March 15 attack. Brenton Tarrant’s barrister told Christchurch High Court his client was pleading not guilty to all charges, prompting anger from survivors and relatives of those killed in the March 15 attacks. […]

Judge orders psychiatric test for Christchurch shooting suspect

  by Chris Foley Agence France Presse CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFP) — 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 […]

Christchurch accused to face 50 murder charges

  CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFP) — The man accused of attacking two mosques in Christchurch last month will face 50 murder charges when he appears in court on Friday, New Zealand police said. Australian Brenton Tarrant was previously charged with one murder as a holding measure, but police said Thursday that all the deaths and injuries in the March 15 attacks will be reflected in upgraded charges during his next appearance. “The man arrested in […]

NZ to hold national remembrance for Christchurch next Friday

New Zealand will hold a national remembrance service on March 29 for the victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre and their families, the prime minister’s office announced on Sunday. The interfaith service will take place in Christchurch two weeks after an Australian white supremacist shot and killed 50 Muslims who had arrived for Friday prayers at two mosques in the city on March 15. “The national remembrance service provides an opportunity for Cantabrians (Christchurch-area residents), […]

Death toll rises to 50 as New Zealand mourns victims

  by Jerome Taylor Agence France Presse New Zealanders flocked to memorial sites to lay flowers and mourn the victims of the twin mosque massacres Sunday, as testimony emerged of epic heroism and harrowing suffering in the gun attack that has claimed 50 lives. Police Commissioner Mike Bush said officers had finally been able to share a list of victims with families, something delayed by the need for careful police work and the sheer scale […]

Australia takes precautions after national carries out NZ mosque massacre

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — The gunman who killed 40 worshippers in two New Zealand mosques on Friday was a right-wing “terrorist” with Australian citizenship, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “We stand here and condemn absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist,” Morrison told a press conference. He confirmed media reports that the gunman who mowed down worshippers in two mosques in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch was […]

Updated: 40 dead in New Zealand mosque shootings

by Chris FOLEY Agence France Presse CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFP) — Attacks on two Christchurch mosques left at least 40 dead Friday, with one gunman – identified as an Australian extremist — apparently livestreaming the assault that triggered the lockdown of the New Zealand city. Witnesses spoke of victims being shot at close range, with women and children also believed to be among those killed. “It is clear that this can now only be described […]

All Blacks legend McCaw joins quake rescue effort

CHRISTCHURCH, United States (AFP) — Former All Blacks great Richie McCaw played a central role in ferrying rescue workers to the most devastated areas following a deadly earthquake which struck New Zealand Monday. The double World Cup winner, now a commercial helicopter pilot, flew rescue and reconnaissance missions to Kaikoura after being woken in his Christchurch home by the powerful 7.8 quake. Christchurch, which was devastated by an earthquake five years ago, is 182 kilometres […]

Tribute to Heroes

SYDNEY, Australia (Eagle News)–Crime and fire fighting is truly a noble yet dangerous and challenging work. Many police officers and firefighters risk their own lives to save others. These past few weeks, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in Australia and New Zealand paid tribute and honored the brave firefighters and police officers of the land. As part of the church’s INC Giving Program, a Heroes Appreciation Day for the Police and Firefighters […]

5.8 magnitude quake shakes New Zealand’s Christchurch

  A  5.8 magnitude quake shook near New Zealand’s city of Christchurch on Sunday (February 14), according to the US Geological Survey. The USGS website said the quake was located 17 kilometers east northeast of Christchurch. New Zealand’s earthquake monitoring service, however, put the quake’s magnitude at 5.7 It hit just eight days short of the anniversary of the February 22, 2011 earthquake in the same region, which resulted in nearly 200 deaths and caused […]

Christchurch Streets Flooded After One Of The Worst Storms Since 1975

(Reuters) — The streets of Christchurch were flooded on Wednesday (March 05) after one of the worst storms since 1975 hit New Zealand’s second biggest city overnight and in the early hours of the morning, local media said. Power was cut to hundreds of homes as emergency services were called in to rescue stranded motorists and sandbag businesses. One council worker, Sean Ryan-Harris described the scene. “We’ve seen a couple of cars, the waves themselves are actually going above their […]