Five Pakistanis missing after New Zealand mosque attacks: official

WELLINGTON: At least five Pakistanis were missing after the attacks on mosques in New Zealand, said Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner in Wellington on Friday.

The deputy high commissioner said that they were making all-out efforts to find the missing Pakistanis and added that the Christchurch police and hospitals’ management were unable to give any details.

He said that the officials of the high commission were visiting different hospitals and police stations to find out the missing Pakistanis. The deputy high commissioner said that the government had shut all the mosques in New Zealand after the Christchurch attacks.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal also confirmed that five Pakistanis were missing in New Zealand after the mosque attacks in Christchurch. He said that New Zealand’s government was not ready to tackle these types of terrorr attack.

It is pertinent to mention here that at least 49 people were killed in terror attack at mosques in New Zealand.

Earlier in the day, the quiet New Zealand city of Christchurch was struck by two deadly attacks on Friday, with 49 people killed and another 20 seriously injured after gun assaults on mosques as Muslims worshipped.

Here is what we know so far about the attacks:

What happened?

During afternoon prayers on Friday — Islam’s holy day — a gunman opened fire inside the Masjid al Noor mosque in central Christchurch, killing forty-one. Another seven were slain at a second mosque five kilometres away in suburban Linwood, three of them outside the building. It is unclear where the remaining victim died.

Witnesses said some victims were shot at close range, with a Palestinian man at one of the mosques saying he saw someone shot in the head.

He described shots fired in quick succession and scenes of panic as people started running out “covered in blood”.

Another said he saw his wife lying dead outside as he escaped, with one more saying he witnessed children being shot.