2019 terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand
Two consecutive mass shootings took place in Christchurch , New Zealand, on 15 March 2019. They were committed by a single perpetrator during Friday prayer , first at the Al Noor Mosque in Riccarton, at 1:40 p.m. and almost immediately afterwards at the Linwood Islamic Centre at 1:52 p.m. Altogether, 51 people were killed and 89 others were injured; including 40 by gunfire.[ 4]
The perpetrator, Brenton Tarrant, was arrested after his vehicle was rammed by a police squad car as he was driving to a third mosque in Ashburton . He live-streamed the first shooting on Facebook , marking the first successfully live-streamed far-right terror attack, and had published a manifesto online before the attack. On 26 March 2020, he pled guilty[ 11] [ 12] to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and engaging in a terrorist act,[ 13] [ 14] and in August was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole – the first such sentence in New Zealand.[ 10] [ 15] [ 16]
The attacks were mainly motivated by white nationalism , anti-immigrant sentiment , and white supremacist beliefs. Tarrant described himself as an ecofascist and voiced support for the far-right "Great Replacement " conspiracy theory in the context of a "white genocide ", cited Anders Behring Breivik and Dylann Roof as well as several other right-wing terrorists as inspirations within his manifesto, praising Breivik above all.[ 17]
The attack was linked to an increase in white supremacy and alt-right extremism globally[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] observed since about 2015.[ 21] [ 22] Politicians and world leaders condemned it,[ 23] and then-Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern described it as "one of New Zealand's darkest days".[ 24] The government established a royal commission into its security agencies in the wake of the shootings, which were the deadliest in modern New Zealand history and the worst ever committed by an Australian national.[ 25] [ 26] [ 27] The commission submitted its report to the government on 26 November 2020,[ 28] the details of which were made public on 7 December.[ 29]
The shooting has inspired multiple copycat attacks,[ c] especially due to its live-streamed nature. In response to this incident, the United Nations designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia .
^ Roy, Eleanor Ainge; Sherwood, Harriet; Parveen, Nazia (15 March 2019). "Christchurch attack: suspect had white-supremacist symbols on weapons" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019 . A bomb disposal team was called in to dismantle explosive devices found in a stopped car.
^ " 'There Will Be Changes' to Gun Laws, New Zealand Prime Minister Says" . The New York Times . 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019 .
^ "Mosque attack sentencing: Gunman's plan of terror outlined in court" . The New Zealand Herald . 13 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024 .
^ a b "2019 - Operation Deans Targeted Terrorist Attacks, Christchurch, 15 March" . New Zealand Police. Retrieved 19 August 2024 .
^ Welby, Peter (16 March 2019). "Ranting 'manifesto' exposes the mixed-up mind of a terrorist" . Arab News . Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019 .
^ Achenbach, Joel (18 August 2019). "Two mass killings a world apart share a common theme: 'ecofascism' " . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 22 June 2020.
^ Perrigo, Billy. "The New Zealand Attack Exposed How White Supremacy Has Long Flourished Online" . Time . Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019 .
^ Campbell, Charlie (21 March 2019). "The New Zealand Attacks Show How White Supremacy Went From a Homegrown Issue to a Global Threat" . Time . Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023 .
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^ Ensor, Blair; Sherwood, Sam. "Christchurch mosque attacks: Accused pleads guilty to murder, attempted murder and terrorism" . Stuff . Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020 .
^ Bayer, Kurt (3 July 2020). "Christchurch mosque shooting: Gunman's sentencing confirmed to start on August 24" . The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020 .
^ Quinlivan, Mark; McCarron, Heather. "Christchurch shooting: Alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant's trial delayed" . Newshub . Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020 .
^ Cite error: The named reference third_appearance
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Lourens, Mariné (27 August 2020). "Christchurch mosque gunman jailed 'until his last gasp' " . Stuff . Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020 .
^ "New Zealand mosque shooter given life in prison for 'wicked' crimes" . Reuters . 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020 .
^ Taylor, Adam (15 March 2019). "New Zealand suspect allegedly claimed 'brief contact' with Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik" . The Washington Post . Retrieved 28 May 2024 .
^ "New Zealand terrorism threat environment following the Christchurch attack" (PDF) . Combined Threat Assessment Group . 16 April 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023 .
^ Clun, Rachel (18 March 2019). "Christchurch shooting live: questions over alt-right hate monitoring following shooting" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019 .
^ Houston, Cameron; Wright, Shane (17 March 2019). "Alt-right extremists are not being monitored effectively" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2024 .
^ "New Zealand Massacre Highlights Global Reach of White Extremism" . The New York Times . 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019 .
^ Observer editorial (17 March 2019). "The Observer view on the Christchurch shootings: we've been too slow to see the far right threat" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019 .
^ "World leaders condemn Christchurch mosque terrorism attack" . Stuff (company) . Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2019 .
^ "PM on mosque shooting: 'One of New Zealand's darkest days' " . Newstalk ZB . 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019 .
^ "Pakistan to honour Christchurch mosque 'hero' with national award" . Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019 . It was the deadliest mass shooting in the country's modern history.
^ Cite error: The named reference Royal Commission Announced
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Graham-McLay, Charlotte (27 August 2020). "Christchurch shooting: mosque gunman sentenced to life without parole" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020 .
^ Roy, Eleanor Roy (25 November 2020). "Christchurch attacks: royal commission hands in report on New Zealand mosque shootings" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020 .
^ Perry, Nick (7 December 2020). "Report shows how New Zealand mosque shooter eluded detection" . Associated Press News . Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020 .
^ Hummel, Kristina (18 July 2019). "The Christchurch Attacks: Livestream Terror in the Viral Video Age" . Combating Terrorism Center at West Point . Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2023 .
^ Lakhani, Dr Suraj (10 June 2022). "The Gamification of Violent Extremism: An Empirical Exploration of the Christchurch Attack" . GNET . Retrieved 13 December 2023 .
^ Konig, Joseph (7 September 2023). "Leaders, experts warn racist Jacksonville shooting not an isolated incident" . NY1 . Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024 .
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