New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said four people have been taken into custody ‐ three men and one woman ‐ though police cannot assume that there are not other suspects at large.
The shootings occurred at the al Noor mosque on Deans Avenue and Linwood Masjid in Linwood, both in Christchurch’s city center.
"We are unsure if there are any other locations outside of that area that are under threat," Bush said, adding that the two locations were on lockdown.
Multiple improvised explosive devices were attached to vehicles as part of the attack, Bush told reporters. These had been "made safe by the defense force."
"This goes to the seriousness of the situation," he said.
Police were still treating the incident as ongoing into Friday evening local time and urged Christchurch residents to stay indoors and monitor the police website and social media.
The situation was also considered as to limited to Christchurch and Bush asked "anyone who was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today not to go. To close your doors until you hear from us again," he said.
All mosques nationwide have been asked to shut their doors.
In a press conference, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the attack as "one of New Zealand’s darkest days."
Daily Mail reporting found at this link.