‘You guys are all in paradise’: Tearful Muslim and All Black star Sonny Bill Williams pays tribute to the 30 victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre
- Rugby star Sonny Bill Williams paid tearful tribute to Mosque shooting victims
- At least 30 people were killed in a horrific shooting at a Christchurch Mosque
- Horrific attack live streamed online by man identified as Brenton Tarrant, 28
- Four people have been arrested over the shooting, three men and one woman
Rugby star Sonny Bill Williams has shared an emotional tribute to those killed in Friday’s mosque shooting in New Zealand.
At least 30 people are believed to have died after a gunman, who identified himself on Twitter as Brenton Tarrant, 28, stormed the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on Friday about 1.30pm local time.
A video seen by Daily Mail Australia shows the man firing multiple shots at dozens of people as they try to flee.
In a video posted to Twitter, a tearful Williams, who is a proud Muslim, said he ‘couldn’t put into words how I feel right now’.
The shooting, which has killed up to 30 people, was live streamed by a man who identified himself as Brenton Tarrant, 28, from Australia
A man dressed in ‘army’ gear entered Noor Mosque in Christchurch around 1.30pm local time opening fire while hundreds of people were taking part in Friday prayer
The 33-year-old told followers he was sending prayers to the loved ones of those killed, and praying himself the victims would end up in paradise.
‘Just sending my duas (prayers) and Mashallah (god willing) – everyone that’s been killed today in Christchurch… your families … [I’m] just sending my duas to your loved ones and Mashallah you guys are all in paradise,’ he said.
‘I’m just deeply, deeply saddened that this would happen in New Zealand.’
Four people, three men and one woman, have been taken into custody, but it is unclear whether the gunman is one of those people.
The suspected gunman posted a 87-page manifesto to Twitter before the killings, describing them as a ‘terrorist attack’.
In the manifesto, where he also identifies as a white supremacist, the man says he is of ‘British stock’.
The armed offenders squad (pictured) was seen investigating the shooting on Friday afternoon
In the live stream, the man is heard listening to folk music as he drives to the mosque with multiple guns in his car
People were also reportedly shot at the nearby Linwood Masjid mosque.
There are also reports of another shooting outside Christchurch Hospital and that a bomb was found in a car three kilometres from the mosque.
Police have urged people near the area to stay indoors and report suspicious behaviour, describing the incident as ‘critical’.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said there were multiple casualties as a result of shootings at two mosques and at Christchurch Hospital.
He urged Muslims in New Zealand not to go to mosques today.
Pictured: Bloodied bandages on the road after the shooting at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch
A man is seen crying as he speaks on the phone outside the Christchurch mosque
Police have four in custody, three men and one woman. It is not known if the man who filmed the attack has been arrested