World’s biggest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has strongly condemned the shooting incident at a mosque in New Zealand’s Christchurch. According to news agency Associated Press, when the Christchurch shooting incident occurred, there were six Indonesians in the mosque and three of them were managed to escape. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called today’s incident one of the country’s darkest days.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retni Marsudi said that there were 330 Indonesian citizens in Christchurch, 130 of them were students. Retni Marsudi said, “We are looking for three other Indonesian citizens.”
According to AP, the Police have taken three men and one woman in custody following the Christchurch mosque shooting. The shootings are reported to have inflicted multiple fatalities but authorities have not said how many.
The Indonesian Embassy in Wellington has reportedly sent a team to Christchurch and they are in talks with New Zealand officials. “The government and the people of Indonesia convey deep condolences to the victims and their families,” Minister Retno Marsudi said in a statement.
Mike Bush, New Zealand Police Commissioner has said that police have managed to defuse several improvised explosive devices found on vehicles after the mosque shootings.
A man who has taken the responsibility for the shootings left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he explained who he was and his reasoning for his actions. Police have issued warning people urging people to avoid mosques anywhere in the country following two shootings with multiple fatalities at two mosques in Christchurch.
Mike Bush said that anyone thinking of going to a mosque should stay put and close their doors.
Also Read: New Zealand Mosque Shooting: At Least 6 Killed And Several Others Injured