CHRISTCHURCH – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturdaythat the suspect of the deadly mosque attacks used modified semi-automaticweapons.She told a press conference in Wellington that there were still 39 peoplein hospital, 11 of whom in critical conditions.The prime minister said the two police officers who arrested BrentonTarrant, a 28-year-old Australian man, deserved plaudits for their bravery.Tarrant was charged with murder Saturday morning.The terrorist attack left 49 dead and 48 people wounded in two Christchurchmosques. Tarrant was apprehended along with two other Australian men.Earlier in the day, Ardern said the country’s gun law would be changed.”Our gun law will be changed” said Ardern, noting that the killers hadlegitimate gun license.Five guns were discovered, two of which were semi-automatic guns, she said.Other weapons and firearms were also retrieved by the police after theattacks on Friday.Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel on Saturday extended her condolences tothe victims and their families and people who are affected by the attacks.”Our thoughts go to the victims and their families and everyone that beingaffect,” Dalziel told Xinhua, calling the event “an unspeakable tragedy.”She also acknowledged the extraordinary response from the police and firstresponders.”An attack on the Muslin community is an attack on us, on Christchurch andon New Zealand,” Dalziel said.She believed that Christchurch people will go through this together by”looking after each other … in many diverse communities in our city.””We need to make sure that everyone feels safe, and everyone feels welcomeand everyone feels a part of the city,” the mayor said.Major public events during the weekend have all been cancelled across NewZealand after the attacks. – APP/Xinhua
New Zealand PM takes tough decision, lauded for her role in time of attack on Muslims
