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CHRISTCHURCH: Australian-born suspected terrorist Brenton Tarrant appeared in court on Saturday charged with murder, after a heinous attack on two Christchurch mosques that left 49 dead.
A right-wing extremist who filmed himself rampaging through two mosques appeared in court on a murder charge.
Twenty-eight-year-old former Australian fitness instructor, who is main suspect in New Zealand mass shootings, sat impassively as the judge read the charge against him.
Brenton Tarrent, wearing handcuffs and a white prison shirt, did not request bail and was taken into custody until his next court appearance scheduled for April 5.
dozens of people are still being treated in hospital for injuries, including a four year old child, after an attack thought to be the deadliest directed against Muslims in the West in modern times.
Outside the court, guarded by heavily armed police in body armour, the sons of 71-year-old Afghan man Daoud Nabi demanded justice.
“It´s outrageous, the feeling is outrageous,” he said. “It´s beyond imagination.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Saturday the victims were from across the Muslim world, with Turkey, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia among the countries rendering consular assistance.
Two other people remain in custody, although their link to the attack is unknown. A third person who was earlier arrested was said to be a member of the public with a firearm who was trying to help.
Two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in a car and neutralised by the military, while police raided a home in Dunedin, where Ardern said the suspect was based