The slaughter shocked the usually peaceful nation, whose Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, labeled the carnage a terrorist attack and one of her country's "darkest days," describing the suspects as holding "extremist views" that have no place in New Zealand or the world.
Three people were arrested in connection with the shootings. They include a 28-year-old man who was charged with murder and was due to appear in court Saturday. The other two remain in custody.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said authorities were investigating their ties to shootings that occurred as Muslims convened for Friday prayers, the busiest time for many mosques around the world.
At least one of those arrested is from Australia, said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling the massacre the work of an "extremist right-wing, violent terrorist."
Police said they were not searching for any other suspects but stressed the investigation remained fluid. None of those arrested in the attacks had been on any security watch lists prior to the attack.
In addition to the 49 killed, authorities said 48 people were wounded, many of them seriously. Some of the injured were young children with gunshot wounds.
One worshiper who said he was inside one of the mosques said he heard the gunman "continuously shooting for 10 to 15 minutes."
Attack apparently broadcast live on social media
Authorities declined to discuss potential motives for the attack. But in a social media post just before the shooting began, an account believed to be connected to the gunman included a link to an 87-page manifesto filled with anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim screeds and explanations for an attack. The manifesto was not signed.
Police said they were aware of a video shared online and broadcast live during the attack, which apparently showed a gunman walking into a mosque and opening fire. "We would strongly urge that the (video) link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed," New Zealand police said.
The brazen nature of the broadcast, and the apparent failure of tech companies to prevent its proliferation online, raised concerns. In New Zealand, commentators also worried that the horror would sow deep divisions in a society that has largely avoided the polarizations that have spread elsewhere.
Facebook New Zealand spokesperson Mia Garlick said in a statement that the footage was quickly taken down. "New Zealand Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the livestream commenced and we removed both the shooter's Facebook account and the video. We're also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we're aware," she said.
CNN has not been able to independently confirm any information about the attackers or the the alleged video at this stage.
A spokesperson for Google and YouTube called the shooting a "terrible tragedy," adding in a statement: "Shocking, violent and graphic content has no place on our platforms, and is removed as soon as we become aware of it. As with any major tragedy, we will work cooperatively with the authorities."
Twitter removed an account it believed was linked to the main suspect and was working to keep the video of the incident off its platform, a spokesperson said. "We are deeply saddened by the shootings in Christchurch today," Twitter said in a statement. "Twitter has rigorous processes and a dedicated team in place for managing exigent and emergency situations such as this. We also cooperate with law enforcement to facilitate their investigations as required."
Australian Prime Minister Morrison said he has asked for flags to be flown at half-staff out of respect for those killed. "Australians stand with all New Zealanders today during this dark time where hate and violence has stolen their peace and innocence. Kia kaha (stay strong)," Morrison tweeted earlier, using a Maori phrase.
US President Donald Trump said in a tweet: "My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can."
IEDs found in vehicle
Armed officers were deployed after first receiving reports of the shootings at 1:40 p.m. local time, when mosques were packed for Friday prayers. Police said 41 people were killed at the al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue. Seven died at the Linwood mosque on Linwood Avenue, and one died in the hospital from injuries.
Two improvised explosive devices were found in a vehicle connected to the attack. A number of weapons were also recovered at both locations.
The area was placed on lockdown, and police urged Christchurch residents to stay indoors and monitor the police website and social media. Worshipers were urged to stay away from all mosques in New Zealand.
Later in the day, authorities evacuated properties close to a "location of interest" in the southern city of Dunedin, some 225 miles from Christchurch.
Victims hail from across the globe
Much remains unknown about the victims, but they appear to have hailed from across the world.
At least two Jordanian citizens were killed and five others wounded in the shootings, according to a statement from Jordan's Foreign Ministry on Friday.
A 5-year-old girl was critically wounded and had surgery but remained in serious condition, her uncle, Sabri al-Daraghmeh, told Jordan's al-Mamlaka TV. She was shot in the face, the abdomen and the leg.
Al-Daraghmeh told the station that his brother was also wounded and remained in stable condition. He was shot in the abdomen and the leg.
Four Pakistani citizens were also wounded, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said Friday on his official Twitter account.
Five other Pakistanis citizens were still unaccounted for, he said.
Gunman opened fire 'for 10 to 15 minutes'
One worshiper, Mohan Ibn Ibrahim, said he was inside one of the mosques when the shooting began. He said he heard the gunman "continuously shooting for 10 to 15 minutes."
"It's a big mosque and there were more than 200 people inside. The gunmen came from the back side. Gunshots went on for a long time. We had to jump the wall to escape. I saw lots of broken glass and bricks on the backside of the mosque," he said.
"I came to the street, I saw one person got shot on his chest," he said, adding that the ambulance and police then arrived on the scene. He said that he had a friend in another mosque in the area who told him a gunman had opened fire there as well and five people were dead.
"I could not contact two of my friends who are in the mosque as well," he said.
Another witness, who did not want to be named, said he was driving and saw a man with a "with his 3- or 4-year-old daughter" who had been shot in the back. "He was screaming, like, get her to the hospital," he said. "I just got my truck and loaded up him, and his daughter, and this other guy had been shot in the leg, and took them to the hospital," he said.
One man outside the mosque said that he prayed that the gunman would "run out of bullets."
"I was thinking that he must run out bullets you know, so what I did was basically waiting and praying to God, oh God please let this guy run out of bullets," he said. He said a man told him to remain still and then the gunman shot the man "straight in the chest."
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