WELLINGTON – A gunman who shot as many as 49 Muslims dead inside twomosques in New Zealand on Friday had visited Pakistan’s northern areas lastyear, according to unverified reports.
In a post from last October, Israr Osho Thang who is a resident of Hunza’sPissan Minapin area mentioned that Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurchshooter, had enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Pakistan during histrip.
Through Thang’s account, the message read: The beauty of hunza and nagarvalley in autumn cannot be beat (sic).
Tarrant also described Pakistan as ‘an incredible place filled with themost earnest, kind hearted and hospitable people in the world’.
Though the original post is now unavailable on Facebook, a screenshot ofthe message by the 28-year-old Australian has taken the internet by storm.
In another post, still available, Thang shared images of the 28-year-oldAustralian taking pictures of Pissan Minapin during his trip to the north.
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However, he claimed in his manifesto that he began plotting the attack twoyears ago and chose the targeted location three months ago.
‘Everywhere I traveled, barring a few small exceptions,’ the shooter statedin his manifesto.
Tarrant remains in the police custody for his involvement in killing of 49people at two mosques in central Christchurch. Forty-one people were shotdead at the Deans Ave mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood Ave attack,and one person shot in the second mosque attack died in hospital.
In a social media post just before the attack, the shooter posted a link toa 74-page manifesto that was filled with anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim ideasand explanations for an attack.
