Thread by @monaeltahawy

This is horrific: A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the #NewZealand city of #Christchurch. apnews.com/76b0cafae9fe47… h/t @rerutled

It is Friday and if the #Christchurch Al Noor mosque shooting happened during Friday congregational prayers, then it would be full of worshippers. Len Peneha says he saw a man dressed in black enter and then heard dozens of shots, followed by people running from mosque in terror.

An eyewitness inside the mosque says he heard shots fired and says at four people were lying on the ground and "there was blood everywhere". radionz.co.nz/news/national/… #Christchurch

“An eyewitness says a man wearing a helmet and glasses and a military style jacket opened fire inside the mosque with an automatic weapon.
About 300 people were inside the mosque for afternoon prayers.” #Christchurch

There have been reports of more shots at a second mosque in Christchurch.
The manager of the An-Nur Early Childhood centre in Wigram said police gave some parents an update that said there were two gunmen and at least one was on the loose.
#Christchurch

All #Christchurch schools, Christchurch Hospital and Christchurch City Council buildings have been placed into lockdown.

Gunmen have opened fire at mosques in #Christchurch, with dozens feared killed and police urging residents to stay indoors.
One of the gunmen filmed as he shot victims. nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/articl… h/t @rerutled

One of the gunmen is believed to be an #Australian who has written a 37-page manifesto declaring his intentions. #ChristchurchMosqueAttack

A #Christchurch Star reporter saw a dead body lying close at Palazzo Lane near Al Noor Mosque.

The body has been covered with clothing.

A witness has seen a child lying in the middle of Deans Ave and another man has told the Herald his relative was shot inside the mosque.

A man told Stuff he was praying in the mosque when he heard the shooting started.

He managed to escape, but outside saw his wife lying dead on the footpath.

"My wife is dead," he said, wailing.

Another man said he saw children being shot.
#ChristchurchMosqueAttack

A man who took in people who escaped from the mosque has shared their description of the gunman.

He was white, aged in his 30s or 40s and wearing a uniform, but he had not been able to ascertain what the uniform was.
"[They said] 'he had a lot of magazines strapped to his legs'

Mohan Ibrahim described running for his life. He was one of 200 in #Christchurch's Al Noor mosque for Friday prayers.
"At first we thought it was an electric shock but then all these people started running...I’ve been calling my friends but there are many I haven't heard from.”

A second shooting happened at a mosque in the Linwood area of #Christchurch

One Friday prayer goer chased the shooters and fired two shots at them as they sped off.

He was heard telling police officers he was firing in "self defence".

Many of the above tweets are from here: nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/articl…