A woman who lost her husband during the March 15, 2019, mosque mass shootings cries outside an information centre for families the next day in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo: CBC/ Vincent Thian: Associated Press)
The death toll following shootings targetting Muslims at two New Zealand mosques is now up to 50 people.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said that the additional victim was discovered after officials were removing bodies from the crime scenes.
On Friday, there were 49 people reported dead.
Fifty others have been injured as a result and 36 are still in hospital. Two are still in critical condition and one child is at a children’s hospital.
An unofficial list of the victims has been released to those impacted, but officials are still working to identify those killed and to release the bodies to families.
Suspected white supremacist Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, was arrested after the attack and faces murder charges.
The gunman first went to the Masjid Al-Noor mosque in central Christchurch Friday and opened fire, killing 40.
The suspect fired at victims huddles in rooms and outside the building. He then continued his rampage at nearby Linwood mosque.
After the gunman fled, he was spotted driving his vehicle by police and was boxed in before being arrested.
A disturbing Livestream of the incident was posted online. New Zealand police are asking the public to not share the video.
A Manifesto denouncing immigrants as “invaders” was also posted online.
The incident is one of the worst mass-shootings in Commonwealth history. Vigils were held across the globe condemning the incident.
In Victoria on Friday the public dropped off flowers and heartfelt messages of support outside Victoria’s Masjid Al-Iman.
A vigil also took place beside Victoria City Hall, where some New Zealand citizens attended and thanked the public for their support.
“We are all hurting as a country for our fellow New Zealanders,” said New Zealand national Suzette as she held back tears at the vigil.
“We are a peaceful nation so for someone to take liberty and to do that to our country is just, as we say in New Zealand, has gutted us.”
With files from the CBC
Julian Kolsut
