Facebook responds to New Zealand massacre livestream and insists it took down the killer’s account as soon as possible and ‘their hearts go out to the victims’
- Shooter live broadcast his killing of 41 people at the Mosque in Christchurch
- New Zealand police alerted Facebook to the broadcast shortly after it went live
- Facebook condemned the ‘horrendous act’ and offered their condolences
- They removed the 28-year-old gunman’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram
Facebook have responded to the New Zealand massacre livestream and insisted it removed the killer’s account as soon as possible.
A man who identified himself as Brenton Tarrant, 28, used Facebook to broadcast his slaughter of 41 worshippers at the Al Noor Mosque, in Christchurch as Friday prayers were underway.
New Zealand police alerted the social media giant to the livestream soon after it began, Facebook confirmed as they offered their condolences to the victims and their families.
The footage shows the killer taking weaponry, including a semi-automatic shotgun and rifle, to the location before he gets out at the Mosque to begin his sick rampage.
Facebook said they were alerted to the killer’s attack at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, by the police soon after it began
Brenton Tarrant (pictured) live-streamed the massacre of dozens of people in Christchurch, New Zealand
Facebook said: ‘Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the community affected by this horrendous act’ (file photo)
‘Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the community affected by this horrendous act,’ Facebook’s boss in Australia and New Zealand, Mia Garlick, said in an email seen by Business Insider.
‘New Zealand Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the livestream commenced, and we quickly removed both the shooter’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and the video,’ Ms Garlick added.
‘We’re also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we’re aware. We will continue working directly with New Zealand Police as their response and investigation continues.’
The gunman’s footage showed the weapons being placed in the boot of a silver vehicle and then being unloaded at the Mosque.
The white supremacist wears a body camera to give a first-person view as he walks towards the door of the Mosque as he takes aim and starts firing on innocent worshippers.
He fires repeatedly at dozens of people as they try to flee, even gunning those crawling away injured.
The suspected gunman posted a 73-page manifesto to Twitter before the killings, foreshadowing a ‘terrorist attack’.
Witnesses reported hearing as many as 50 shots from his arsenal, which included a semi-automatic shotgun and a rifle at Mosque in Christchurch on the country’s South Island.
The gunfire began at about 1.30pm as the Mosque was packed with devotees for its Friday prayer ceremonies.
At about the same time, what appears to be a second shooter opened fire at at mosque in Linwood, which is within 6 miles of the first attack.
Four suspects – who were not known to counter-terror authorities – are being questioned in custody.
Chilling footage shows the gunman entering the mosque with a semi-automatic shotgun
The live broadcast showed the killer loading an assault rifle and a shotgun into the boot of his car
He then walks to the front of the Mosque before he begins his massacre which has left 41 dead
Of the 49 fatalities, 41 were killed at the Al Noor Mosque and seven at the Linwood Avenue mosque. Three were outside the mosque itself.
At least 48 people were rushed to Christchurch Hospital with gunshot wounds, 20 in a critical condition. One victim has since died.
One of the suspects was arrested while wearing a suicide vest, while a man wearing military fatigues was arrested outside Papanui High School.