GRIEVING relatives face an anxious wait for the release of their loved ones’ bodies as the death toll of the Christchurch mosque massacre continues to rise.
At least 50 people have died in what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” while 12 people, including one child, remain critically ill in hospital.
Volunteers from around the country are now travelling to Christchurch to help prepare the remains for burial. According to Islamic law this should be as soon as possible after death, but while some of the bodies were expected to be released last night, it may be Wednesday before all of them can be released, say New Zealand authorities.
READ MORE: New Zealand in shock following mass shootings in Christchurch
A centre for families and friends of the victims was set up near Christchurch Hospital.
Abdul Hakim, 56, of Auckland, is one of the volunteers who has flown to the city to help with the burial rites.
“We are all here to help them in washing the body, putting them in the grave,” he said.
A Muslim burial area has been fenced off for the ceremonies and is obscured from public view by white netting.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police were working with coroners and pathologists to release the bodies as soon as possible.
“We have to be absolutely clear on the cause of death and confirm their identity before that can happen,” he said.
“But we are aware of the cultural and religious needs so we are doing that as quickly and as sensitively as possible.”
He also defended the police response to the attacks on the two Christchurch mosques on Friday.
“Within six minutes of police being called, armed police staff were on the scene,” he said. “And within 36 minutes we had that mobile offender in our custody.”
Meanwhile, Ardern said her office had been one of more than 30 places to receive an emailed manifesto from the killer minutes before he struck.
“It did not include location. It did not include specific details,” she said.
“Within two minutes of receipt it was conveyed directly to parliamentary security.
“Had it provided details that could have been acted on immediately it would have been, but unfortunately there were no such details in the email.”
After the attacks there was widespread anger that graphic footage had been streamed online by the killer, 28-year-old Brenton Harrisson Tarrant, who was charged with murder on Saturday.
Facebook has now announced that 1.5 million videos of the murders, filmed by the gunman, were removed within one day of the killings, with 1.2m blocked at upload.
Mia Garlick, of Facebook New Zealand, said the company was continuing “to work around the clock” to remove violating content.
“Out of respect for the people affected by this tragedy and the concerns of local authorities, we’re also removing all edited versions of the video that do not show graphic content,” she said.
However, yesterday, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond said more regulation was needed.
He said that “as the world becomes more and more digital” we need to ensure our digital environment is regulated to real-world standards.
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