UPDATE: The original news reports suggested that a Muslim at the Mosque had run home (presumably very nearby) to get his gun to stop the attack. Well, new reports suggest something quite different happened. There are basic inconsistencies between the two reports.
The original reports suggest that the Muslim was able to fire the gun at the attacker, but the other articles suggest that he took the gun from the shooter and didn’t know how to fire it. Another major difference is that the original reports described the person who stopped the attack as “a well known Muslim,” whereas later reports had him as a “young guy who usually takes care of the mosque.” Here is the latest article from Fox News:
A survivor of Friday’s deadly mass shootings in New Zealand has spoken out about the moment his friend tackled the gunman and wrestled his weapon away from him as he opened fire on worshippers.
Syed Mazharuddin was praying at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch on Friday around lunchtime when a man wearing protective gear entered and began shooting at men, women and children inside. In the chaotic moments that followed, Mazharuddin said his friend found the chance to tackle the gunman and disarm him.
“The young guy who usually takes care of the mosque … he saw an opportunity and pounced on [the gunman] and took his gun,” Mazharuddin told the New Zealand Herald. “The hero tried to chase and he couldn’t find the trigger in the gun … he ran behind him but there were people waiting for him in the car and he fled.”
Though the news is inconsistent on what happened, it is clear that this individual stopped the attack. So it is disconcerting that the Prime Minister just dismisses this individual’s role. Here is a typical discussion in the New York Post.
Original Post: Note that while 41 died at the Hagley Park Mosque, only seven died at the Linwood mosque. The attack on the Linwood mosque apparently ended before the police arrived on the scene. We know that there were 400 people at prayer at the Hagley Park Mosque. If anyone has the exact number at the Linwood Islamic Center, we would greatly appreciate it.
From the New Zealand Herald.
Second shooting at mosque in Linwood
A second shooting happened at a mosque in the Linwood area of the city.
One Friday prayer goer returned fire with a rifle or shotgun.
Witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots around 1.45pm.
A well known Muslim local chased the shooters and fired two shots at them as they sped off.
He was heard telling police officers he was firing in “self defence”.
“They were in a silver Subaru,” he told police.
This individual at the Linwood Mosque was apparently arrested by the police, though he was later released.
Big 2A supporter so please go easy on me. Seems that brave individuals charged the shooter at both locations. Only successful at the Linwood mosque. I wish there had been armed security (either congregants or professional) but heroically fighting back, successfully or not, should be heralded as an example for all of us.
The term is “Citizen”,
Civilian refers to those subject to civil law as opposed to those subject to martial law.
Policemen are civilians no matter how much they would like to set themselves apart.
Peelian principle:
7.To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.