Tragedy strikes as 49 people were killed and more than 20 other were seriously injured in shooting attacks at two mosques in New Zealand during prayer service today (March 15th).

According to CBS News, the shooter was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, and reportedly live streamed the killing on Facebook live from a GoPro camera attached to his helmet.

A total of four people were taken into custody, three men and one woman, and police defused explosive devices that were found to vehicles.

The man who is responsible for the attack left a 74-page manifesto explaining his anti-Muslim motivation and claiming he acted as a "lone wolf."

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement,

The United States strongly condemns the attack in Christchurch. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with the people of New Zealand and their government against this vicious act of hate.

The 28-year old white Australian who came to the New Zealand to plan and train for the attack, and mentioned he chose the country to show that even the most remote parts of the world aren't free from what he called "mass immigration."

Continue to pray for those in New Zealand and for world peace.

 

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