Forty-nine people have died in two mosque shootings in Christchurch, with explosive devices found attached to vehicles of some of those arrested.
A family lay flowers outside the Linwood mosque. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
Forty-one people died at the Deans Avenue mosque, while seven died at the Linwood Avenue mosque, and another person who was being treated at Christchurch Hospital has since died.
Another 48 people have gunshot wounds, with more than 20 in a serious condition.
The injured include young children.
Christchurch Hospital said operations will continue through the night on those people who are critically ill.
Police are in attendance at an address in Dunedin which they say is connected to the attack.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it can only be described as a terrorist act and the national security threat level has been lifted from low to high for the first time in the nation's history.
She said this was a well-planned attack, with explosive devices also found attached to vehicles of some of those arrested.
Ms Ardern said it appears there are no other shooters at large, but they cannot assume that.
She said she is taking police advice about travelling to Christchurch but hopes to get there tomorrow.
None of the people arrested were on a terrorist watch list, she said.
"There are currently four individuals who have been apprehended but three are connected to this attack who are currently in custody, one of which has publicly stated that they were Australian born," Ms Ardern said.
Jacinda Ardern heads to a press conference on the mosque shootings. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder and is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court tomorrow morning.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said three other people were apprehended.
"We believe one of those persons who was armed and was at the scene, may have had nothing to do with this incident. And the two other people that have been apprehended, again in possession of firearms in the general environment, we are working through to understand what their involvement is."
Police recovered a number of firearms from both of the scenes, he said.
"I would like to assure everyone around New Zealand that every available police and emergency resource with our other government agencies and Defence Force are doing everything they can to keep our communities safe. We have had no other threats since we responded to this incident."
Mr Bush said no agency had any information about these people, and he had also been in contact with his Australian colleagues who had no information on them either.
Ambulance staff take a man from outside a Christchurch mosque. Photo: AP 2019
Police are setting up a facility so that people can phone in and check on their loved ones, Mr Bush said.
People living in New Zealand can also register missing persons on 0800 115 019.
People who have a missing family member following the shootings are also asked to email the police.
The Muslim Association of Canterbury has asked people trying to track down a missing person to email kevin.holder@police.govt.nz.
People are asked to include the name, photograph, phone number, address, description including clothing, date of birth, and family contact details.
Police say they are still treating the situation in Christchurch as ongoing, and strongly urge people to stay indoors, and keep safe.
"We have mobilised every police resource in the Canterbury region to respond to this," Mr Bush said.
"There were a number of IEDs attached to vehicles that we also stopped. They've been made safe by the Defence Force but that does go to the seriousness of the situation."
Mr Bush said social media footage of the incidents is very disturbing and police are looking at how to remove it from the public domain.
The prime minister has made a direct appeal for people not to share the video of the terrorist attack or the related manifesto posted online.
RNZ has confirmed with a person who worked closely with Brenton Tarrant that he is the man in video and social media speaking of the attack.
The New South Wales woman said she is shocked he was able to carry out such an extreme act of violence. She said that when he left her employment, he expressed a desire to travel.
Police have told mosques nationwide to shut their doors until further notice, as the situation in Christchurch unfolds. The mosques where the shootings occured, in Riccarton and Linwood, remain in lock down.
Police are unsure if other locations are under threat and officers have been mobilised across the country, Mr Bush said.
He warned anyone who was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today not to go, and for mosques to close their doors until they hear from police.
Photo: AP 2019
Christchurch Airport is still open, however some flights have been cancelled. Air New Zealand has cancelled 17 regional turbo prop services this evening as it is not possible to screen customers and their baggage, but jet operations from Christchurch Airport will continue.
Forty-eight patients with gunshot wounds are being treated at Christchurch Hospital after the attacks.
Canterbury District Health Board chief executive David Meates said the patients range from young children to adults with gunshot wounds, with injuries ranging from critical to minor.
He said 12 operating theatres are currently in use and due to the nature of some of the injuries, many people will need multiple surgeries.
There is sufficient capacity and staff at Christchurch Hospital and the police cordon has been lifted from the site, so people who need emergency health care can now attend the Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department, he said.
About 200 family members are on site awaiting news of their family members, Mr Meates said.
A witness said a man wearing a military-style jacket opened fire inside the mosque on Deans Ave.
The head of the Federation of Islamic Federations of New Zealand, Dr Mustafa Farouk, told RNZ that up to 500 people were inside the mosque.
Mr Farouk said he believes members of the Bangladesh cricket team may have been worshipping at the mosque at the time.
He said Friday is a big day for the mosque and there would have been between 300 and 500 worshippers there today.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed all members of the team are safe in Christchurch.
"All members of the Bangladesh cricket team in Christchurch, New Zealand are safely back in the hotel following the incident of shooting in the city," the BCB's official Twitter account tweeted.
"The Bangladesh Cricket Board is in constant contact with the players and team management."
A witness earlier told RNZ they saw at least five people lying on the ground at the Deans Ave mosque.
"There was blood everywhere."
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said police are getting the situation under control but it is critical that people stay away from the central city until further notice.
"This is not something I would ever expect to see in the city and it's not something I would ever expect to see in New Zealand, so it is serious and they [police] are treating it seriously," Ms Dalziel told Checkpoint.
"I am very shocked by what I'm hearing but for me but the priority is getting the message out to people they have to stay safe, stay calm and to provide the reassurance that if they're inside a central city building they must stay there in order to stay safe."
Police are getting the situation under control, but it's critical that people stay away from the central city until further notice, she said.
"All council buildings in the central city are in lockdown and police are requesting central city building owners do the same.
"We're looking after some students who were at the climate change rally. They are safe here and we will keep them here until we are advised by the police they can leave."
Students had come into the council building chanting about climate change which Ms Dalziel had also attended in Cathedral Square to receive a letter being sent to all civic leaders.
"They didn't know [about the shootings]... I was the one that had to tell them there'd been a serious incident and the police were asking them to stay put within the building and that was the advice I gave them.
"It has been nerve-racking for them. But the first piece of advice I gave them was to get on their mobile phones and text their families and tell them they were safe ... so they're busy on their cellphones and talking to people. They're safe here."
Earlier, Ms Ardern said many of those who will have been directly affected by the shooting will be migrants and refugees.
"They have chosen to make New Zealand their home and it is their home. They are us."
"The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not. They have no place in New Zealand. there is no place in New Zealand for such acts of extreme and unprecedented violence which it is clear this act was," she said.
The Prime Minister has convened a high level committee brought together to respond to serious security events.
The Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination, or ODECS, is a committee of chief executives which manages national security.
Its role is to co-ordinate the response to serious security events across the whole government and advise on how resources are best deployed.
Police are urging people in central Christchurch to stay indoors and report any suspicious behaviour immediately to 111.
All schools in Christchurch were put into lockdown just after 2pm, but that was lifted at about 6pm and parents were asked to contact their school to find out what arrangements there are for collecting their children.
Deans Ave has been closed between Moorhouse Avenue and Riccarton Road. Motorists are being advised to avoid the area.
The president of the international Muslim Association of New Zealand said his community was in shock.
Wellington-based Tahir Nawaz said the attack on the mosques in Christchurch was not something he ever thought would happen in New Zealand.
"New Zealand is known as a country with loving people and we have a peace and harmony with other religions and people. Having something like this is a big shock.
The Jewish community, and others from the area, have been in touch to offer help, and bringing flowers, Mr Nawaz said.
"They are extending a hand to help," he said.
