Condolences, fights and threats of revenge: a reaction to the terrorist attack in New Zealand

15 March armed men attacked two mosques in the city of Christchurch in New Zealand. They burst inside and fired - 49 people became victims of the terrorist attack, dozens were injured. What happened was called "one of the darkest days in the history of New Zealand." This is how politicians and users of social networks react to the tragedy.

Photo: screenshot ABC News video

Trump called the attack "terrible"

15 in March, US President Donald Trump called the shooting at two mosques in Christchurch "a terrible, terrible thing," saying that he spoke with the country's defense minister, "to express the grief of the whole of our nation," writes NBC News.

But the president said that he did not consider white nationalism (one of the shooters before the terrorist attack published a long manifesto detailing his views as a supporter of “white superiority”) as a growing world threat.

"I think this is a small group of people who have very, very serious problems," Trump said in response to a reporter's question.

Earlier in the day, the president wrote a tweet expressing “the warmest sympathy and best wishes” to the people of New Zealand. He was joined by a number of other current and former officials.

Vice President Mike Pence said on Twitter: “We condemn this attack on believers in the strongest terms. God is with you. ”

Ex-resident Barack Obama also expressed his condolences on Twitter: “We mourn for you and with the Muslim community. We all must resist hatred in all its manifestations. ”

The first lady Melania Trump also expressed sympathy in her Twitter account: “My deep condolences to families who have lost loved ones in terrible shooting. We pray and mourn with you and resist all hatred. ”

In the evening, 14 March, American time, immediately after the shooting reports, Trump tweeted Breitbart News, which reported on the attacks. He later deleted the tweet; his morning post 15 March was his first comment.

Some Democrats drew attention to the manifesto of the suspect shooter of "white superiority." In its 74-page manifesto "The Great Replacement" 28-year-old Branen Tarrant called himself an "ethnonationalist" and a "fascist"and also confirmed that the attack on the mosque was a terrorist attack. He explained his actions with a desire to "create an atmosphere of fear" and provoke violence against Muslims. As stated in the manifesto, he himself did not seek glory.

Threat of revenge

In an unknown Twitter microblog, he promised to "take revenge on New Zealand for the terrorist attack." Now his account is blocked by a social network, but the media have kept a screenshot of the recording:

“I hope New Zealanders will give a worthy rebuff to the evil spirits,” wrote one commentator on Tjournal.

Fighting due to terrorist attack

In Australia, a teenager broke an egg about the head of Senator Fraser Enning, who spoke about the terrorist attack in New Zealand. In response, the politician hit the boy in the face, and his supporters began to strangle the teenager. Attack videos tweeted Tjournal.

Someone has just slapped an egg on the back of Australian Senator Fraser Anning's head, who immediately turned around and punched him in the face. @politicsabc @abcnews pic.twitter.com/HkDZe2rn0X

- Henry Belot (@Henry_Belot) March 16, 2019

March 15 Anning reported that "the real reason for the bloodshed in New Zealand is the immigration program that allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to the country." According to him, "left-wing politicians and the media will hasten to declare that the reasons for today's shootings lie in the weapon laws."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the senator's words "disgusting." “These views have no place in Australia, not to mention the Australian Parliament,” added Morrison. Australian residents criticized the words of the senator in social networks.

The Australian News.com.au reported that a senator’s supporter, holding the boy, told him: “You're just a weak human being.” The teen was handed over to the police, who released him without charge before further investigation.

This is what anser's fraser right wing of lads did. #auspol #FraserAnning pic.twitter.com/sJNzRLppG5

- Paul Barry (@TheRealPBarry) March 16, 2019

New Zealand authorities will change the law on the circulation of weapons after the attack

Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared before the court in Christchurch, where he was formally charged with murder, writes Present Tense. An extremist from Australia was led into a meeting room in handcuffs and a white prison uniform. The court decided to arrest him before April 5 without the right of release on bail, reports Reuters. Tarrant was silent at the meeting.

49 people became victims of the terrorist attack in New Zealand. The wounded were operated on in the city’s hospitals all night: 40 people were injured, 11 of them remain in intensive care. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jasinda Ardern, described the attack as “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”

The police still do not give the names of two more detainees, their involvement in the crime is checked.

At first, Tarrant entered the Al-Nur mosque with a semi-automatic rifle, where he killed a 41 man. He returned to the car to change weapons, and again shot at the people who had gathered for the Friday prayer. Then he got back into the car and in seven minutes was in the Christchurch suburb, Lynwood, where he killed seven people in another mosque. He tried to leave and was detained in the car by the police - 36 minutes after the emergency services received the first call for help. In the car were improvised explosive devices. Police believe he was going to continue the attacks.

Photo: Twitter screenshot

He acquired all the weapons that Tarrant used legally. He had five small arms, including two semi-automatic rifles and two shotguns, which he redid.

“I can say right now: our gun laws will change,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters on March 16.

The authorities of the country first of all plan to limit the sale of semi-automatic weapons and prohibit their modification, bringing the weapon closer to the combat one. In recent years, New Zealand has attempted to tighten legislation, but there is a very strong arms lobby and long hunting traditions in the country. With a population of about 5 million people in New Zealand, 1,5 million weapons are registered, while the country has a very low crime rate with firearms.

American politicians after the attack began talking about Islamophobia

“The rising tide of white supremacy and Islamophobia around the world must be matched by our resolve to fight against hate,” Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker tweeted. That message was echoed by another 2020 contender, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke.

Hillary Clinton, 2016 Democratic candidate of the year, tweeted that her “heart is breaking because of New Zealand”: “We must continue to fight the normalization of Islamophobia and racism in all its forms. Proponents of white superiority must be condemned by leaders all over the world. Their deadly hatred must stop. ”

Minnesota Attorney-General Keith Ellison (Muslim) wrote: “The killers in New Zealand will not prevent you fearlessly, with faith and love to embrace your neighbors. It could be the best way to overcome their hatred. ”

Another 2020 candidate of the year, Senator Elizabeth Warren, linked the attack with gunfights in the USA: in the church in Charleston, South Carolina, and the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa.: “Everyone should have the right to perform religious rites without fear, and attack the place of worship is terrorism committed against all of us. Today, my heart turns to the people of New Zealand. ”

Other Trump administration officials also responded to the incident. Homeland Security Minister Kirsten Nielsen expressed her condolences to the victims and their families and said on her Twitter account that there were no threats against the United States, but she encouraged vigilance.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders also issued a statement: “The United States strongly condemns the attack in Christchurch. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with the people of New Zealand and their government against this evil act of hatred. ”

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