Man accused of Christchurch shooting charged with engaging in a terrorist act

cde.news desk 21 May 2019, 11:04 · 1 min read

epa07588261 (FILE) - Brenton Tarrant (pixelated) makes a sign to the camera during his appearance, on a charge of murder for Christchurch mosque massacre in the District Court, Christchurch, New Zealand, 16 March 2019 (reissued 21 May 2019). Tarrant was charged with 'engaging in a terrorist act', police said in a statement on 21 May. Tarant already faces charges of murder and 40 of attempted murder following the terrorist attacks against two mosques in New Zealand during Friday prayers on 15 March 2019. EPA-EFE/Martin Hunter / POOL NEW ZEALAND OUT

New Zealand police have charged the man accused of murder in shootings at two Christchurch mosques in March with engaging in a terrorist act, the first time such a charge had been brought in the country’s history, they said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile a New Zealand lawmaker was given a security escort on Tuesday after threats against her by white supremacists opposed to her views on hate speech, a rare precaution in a country where politicians mingle freely with the public.

A debate on hate speech has been raging in New Zealand since the mass shooting in Christchurch on March 15 by a suspected white supremacist that killed 51 people and wounded dozens.

Green party lawmaker Golriz Ghahraman, a human rights lawyer who was born in Iran and came to New Zealand as a child refugee, has seen an escalation of threats against her in recent weeks.

via Reuters

Topics christchurch NewZealand