One of the regular visitors of the Al-Noor mosque, Mr Osama told SBS Urdu that the Friday prayers start with a sermon when the attacker came and started firing.
“The mosque is always packed with more than 300 plus people or more when the prayer starts around 2pm.
“People from various backgrounds including Arabs, Somalian, Pakistani, Indians, Bengalis and Fijians come to pray.
“The attacker came around 1:40 pm when there are early visitors who come with children or the elderly.
“I go to the mosque at the same time. But due to an office meeting, I was only a few minutes late.”
A relative weeps while showing the picture of Sohail Shahid, who was killed in Christchurch, outside his home in Lahore, Pakistan, March 17 2019. Source: AAP
Mr Osama* said that on Friday, when he drove close to the mosque it was surrounded by the police.
“I was with my friend and we thought there was a possible crime incident, so we went to the second mosque where a similar thing happened.
Mr Osama said that he is extremely lucky and it is God’s will that he is still alive.
“It could have been me if I had been there a few minutes earlier.”
Source: AAP
“I was going to perform ablution when I heard several shots fired.
“My initial thoughts were that it could be an electric cable and there was possible some short-circuit issue which is making such noise.
“When I heard screaming, it was then I realised that there are attackers in the mosque."
“I called the police and messaged people for help.”
READ MORE
Pakistanis in New Zealand
Dr Moiz* who is from a Pakistani background and migrated to New Zealand told SBS Urdu that the initial reaction to the unfolding incident was ‘fear’.
“We were afraid. It is incomprehensible to think that such an event could take place in New Zealand.
“It is an extremely peaceful country and people love other cultures and respect their values.
“There was a bit of initial anger as to why it happened with the Muslims but the response from the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the government supporting the community helped with that.
“The tragic incident also highlights that all of us - from all backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities - realise that any kind of hatred that any of us feels towards anyone else, for whatever reason, needs to be addressed.
“If we don't address it, it expresses itself in some sort of abuse or violence.
“Hatred is a common problem for everyone. All sides (whether political or religious) need to recognise and address it.”
Note *: Only first names have been published for privacy.
Follow SBS Urdu on Facebook and Twitter.
Also, listen to SBS Urdu radio program on Wednesdays and Sundays at 6:00 pm AEDT
Share
