Three people are in custody after at least one heavily-armed shooter attacked Muslim worshippers at Friday prayer, killing 49 people and injuring dozens in two New Zealand mosques while broadcasting a live stream of the terror attack.
A 28-year-old Australian-born citizen was in custody after claiming responsibility for the attacks in Christchurch and allegedly posting a white nationalist manifesto immediately before the murder spree.
He and three others who were detained – one of which was later released – were not on any watch lists, and one was a woman, according to reports from Fox News.
"This is one of New Zealand's darkest days," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said following the massacre, adding that the killings "happened in a place where people should’ve been expressing their religious freedom, where they should’ve been safe."