By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ANKARA (AA) – Global condemnations poured in for the victims of Friday’s Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand that the country’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern termed "one of the darkest days".
New Zealand Police said that at least 49 people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch area. Four persons including a woman have been detained in the case, so far.
Gunmen, who recorded the incident for 17 minutes on social media, fired multiple times during Friday prayers at the Al Noor and Linwood Masjid mosques. The video has since been removed from social media.
Expressing solidarity with the victims, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that it was the “latest example of rising racism and Islamophobia”.
"I strongly condemn the terror attack against the Al Noor Mosque in #NewZealand and Muslim worshippers," Erdogan said on Twitter.
Confirming that one gunman involved in the terror attack was Australian-born, Scott Morrison, the country’s prime minister, said that Australia stood in solidarity with New Zealand after the tragic attack.
“We stand here and condemn, absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist,” Morrison told a news conference.
“We are not just allies, we are not just partners, we are family,” he added.
Slamming the mass shooting, Indonesia said that there were six Indonesian citizens in the Al Noor Mosque at the time.
“The fact that there were shootings in mosques during prayer is something that we should condemn,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said during an official address in Jakarta.
“We continue to communicate to ensure the condition of three other Indonesian citizens who currently can’t be contacted,” the top diplomat said.
At least 331 Indonesian citizens live in Christchurch, 134 of whom are students.
Afghan Ambassador to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, Wahidullah Waissi confirmed that one Afghan origin man was also shot by the gunmen.
“I am receiving terrible news out of Christchurch mosques’ shootings. My thoughts are with the family of an Afghan origin who‘s been shot and killed at this heinous incident and with three other Afghans who are injured. Watching this closely as the situation is still unfolding,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's prime minister-in-waiting, termed the attack a “black tragedy facing humanity and universal peace”.
One Malaysian had been wounded in the attack, he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country "stands shoulder to shoulder against such terror acts".
"I mourn with the New Zealanders for their fellow citizens, who were peacefully praying when attacked in their mosques and murdered out of racist hatred," she said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan also condemned the attack saying "terrorism does not have a religion".
“I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11 where Islam & 1.3 bn Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of terror by a Muslim. This has been done deliberately to also demonize legitimate Muslim political struggles,” Khan said in a tweet.
Kamal Faruqui, founder of All India Muslim Personal Board, a non-profit organization of the minority in India, condemned the attack.
“An anti-Muslim virus is spreading across the world. People of all religions should be very worried,” he reportedly said.
Top cleric and resistance leader in Indian-administered Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed shock on the barbaric incident.
“Shocked and deeply grieved by the barbaric attack at twin mosques in #Christchurch New Zealand. Multiple fatalities feared. Once again humanity becomes a casualty. Condemnation beyond words. Prayers for the victims,” Mirwaiz said on Twitter.
Morocco's Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) said the massacre amounts to "heinous act of terrorism, a crime against humanity and an ugly appearance of hatred of Islam by extremist racial groups".
* Islamuddin Sajid from Islamabad, Ali Abo Rezeg from Ankara, Ayhan Simsek from Berlin contributed to this report