New Zealand attack - live updates: Suspected gunman appears in court as Prime Minister Ardern promises ‘gun laws will change’

At least 49 killed in mass shooting of worshippers in two mosques

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister says at least 40 dead in mosque shooting

At least 49 people have been killed and dozens more are seriously injured after shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Witnesses described seeing bodies and “blood everywhere” following the attack at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch on Friday afternoon.

Police have charged an Australian citizen, Brenton Tarrant with murder,

Handcuffed and wearing a white prison suit, the 28-year-old smirked as he appeared Christchurch District Court but did not speak. His court-appointed lawyer made no application for bail or name suppression.

He was likely to face further charges, police said. Another three people were arrested in connection with the attack. One was later released, but two remain detained at the time of publication.

Tarrant ppeared to have live-streamed the attack and outlined his anti-immigrant motives in a manifesto posted online.

A search of a property in Dunedin, around 200 miles to the south, was carried out by police.

Videos and documents posted online appear to suggest that the shooter live-streamed his attack on Facebook and prepared an anti-immigrant “manifesto” prior to the shooting.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand's gun laws would be changed as a result of the attack. She later visited refugees in the city.

Follow the latest developments in our live blog below.

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Key Points

• The shooting began at Masjid Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch at 1.45pm
• At least 49 dead and dozens seriously injured, say police and PM Ardern
• Brenton Tarrant has been remanded in custody after he was charged with murder
• Manifesto and live stream purporting to show attack were posted online
• Police search property in Dunedin linked to the shootings
• Presidents, prime ministers and religious leaders pay tribute to victims

[15 March 2019 06:29 · Adam Withnall]

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says 40 people have died and more than 20 people were seriously injured in the mosque shooting

[15 March 2019 06:51 · Adam Withnall]

Ardern says 30 of the fatalities occurred at the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch. Seven of the dead were inside the suburban Linwood Masjid Mosque and three died outside the same mosque.

[15 March 2019 06:53 · Adam Withnall]

Ardern says New Zealand has been placed on its highest security threat level.

She says that the four people in police custody held extremist views, but had not been on any police watchlists.

She confirmed that one is an Australian citizen.

[15 March 2019 06:56 · Adam Withnall]

Ardern says "this can only be referred to as a terror attack".

She refers to multiple attackers and says explosive devices were attached to their vehicles, but says she cannot "give specifics about who was directly involved at each mosque".

[15 March 2019 06:57 · Adam Withnall]

Ardern wraps up the news conference in Wellington saying she is planning to head to Christchurch "as early as I can".

[15 March 2019 07:05 · Adam Withnall]

The third Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been postponed.

The match was due to take place in Christchurch, and the Bangladesh squad was visiting the Al Noor mosque as the attack unfolded. No players were harmed.

[15 March 2019 07:24 · Adam Withnall]

Ardern said earlier that the national security threat level has been lifted from low to high after the deadly shootings at two mosques. 

The security threat level is now at the second-highest level. She said authorities had no reason to believe there were more suspects, but "we are not assuming that at this stage." 

[15 March 2019 07:26 · Adam Withnall]

The UK stands with New Zealand, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has tweeted:

[15 March 2019 07:59 · Adam Withnall]

Australian Senator Fraser Anning, an independent formerly of the right-wing nationalist One Nation party, is being widely condemned for issuing a statement criticising "Muslim immigration" in the wake of the Christchurch attack.

Anning posted a press release and a number of tweets on the subject, including one in which he spouts that "the real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program that allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place".

Speaking to news.com.au, a media adviser for Anning denied there had been any backlash to the statement, though any evidence of Anning himself sharing the press release has now been deleted.

[15 March 2019 08:07 · Adam Withnall]

Some 48 people, including children, are being treated in Christchurch Hospital after shootings at two mosques in the city on Friday, New Zealand health authorities said.

Wounds range from minor to critical, they said.