A MAN has appeared in court in connection with the horrific mosque murders in New Zealand on Friday when 50 people were killed.
Australian Brenton Tarrant was yesterday charged with murder as the first names were released of the victims of the Christchurch killings.
The 28-year-old was handcuffed and dressed in a white prison shirt at the brief hearing and remained silent as the murder charge was read out. More charges are expected to be made against him and he was remanded in custody after making no plea. He is due to appear back in court on April 5. Two other suspects are in custody. None have a criminal record.
The judge ruled Tarrant’s face should be pixellated in filming and photographs to safeguard his right to a fair trial even though his picture has been seen across the world in the wake of the atrocity.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has now vowed to change the country’s relaxed gun laws after revealing Tarrant had acquired a gun licence in November 2017 which gave him the right to buy weapons used in the killings.
READ MORE: New Zealand in shock following mass shootings in Christchurch
She said the guns used in the “act of terror” had been modified and the suspect’s vehicle was packed full of weapons, indicating “his intention to continue with his attack”.
At a news conference yesterday she said: “The mere fact... that this individual had acquired a gun licence and acquired weapons of that range, then obviously I think people will be seeking change, and I’m committing to that.”
A hunting culture and vocal gun lobby has thwarted previous moves to tighten up gun laws in New Zealand but the country’s Attorney-General David Parker said the government would examine the possibility of banning semi-automatic weapons.
At the moment, 16-year-olds can own guns while anyone who is 18 or above can buy military-style semi-automatics.
Although, they must first obtain a gun licence, most weapons do not have to be individually registered, in contrast to the laws in the majority of countries, and licence holders can buy as many guns as they wish.
A background check of medical and criminal records has to be carried out before a licence can be granted but while Tarrant openly flaunted his far-right leanings and support of white supremacy, New Zealand authorities did not appear to consider him a risk.
READ MORE: Why we should respond to the Christchurch attack with compassion
“The individual charged with murder had not come to the attention of the intelligence community nor the police for extremism,” said Ardern, adding that he had “travelled around the world with sporadic periods of time spent in New Zealand”.
Those of the victims who have been named include 71-year-old Daoud Nabi who is being hailed as a hero after reports he threw himself in front of others in the mosque in an attempt to save their lives. Khaled Mustafa, who had escaped war-torn Syria was also killed, along with 42-year-old Hosne Ara who was gunned down while searching for her wheelchair-bound husband. He survived.
Pakistan has named six nationals killed in the attack as Sohail Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, Syed Areeb Ahmed, Mahboob Haroon, Naeem Rashid and his son Talha Naeem. Three others are still being identified.
Of the 48 people who were wounded, 10 are still critically ill in hospital.
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