A right-wing extremist who filmed himself rampaging through two mosques in the quiet New Zealand city of Christchurch killing . Australian-born 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant appeared in the dock wearing handcuffs and a white prison shirt, sitting impassively as the judge read a single murder charge against him. A raft of further charges are expected.

A former fitness instructor and self-professed fascist, Tarrant did not request bail and was taken into custody until his next court appearance scheduled for April 5.
Fortytwo persons are still being treated in hospital for injuries, including a four-year-old child, after an attack thought to be the deadliest directed against Muslims in the West in modern times.

Outside the court, guarded by heavily armed police in body armour, the sons of 71-year-old Afghan man Daoud Nabi demanded justice.”It’s outrageous, the feeling is outrageous,” he said. “It’s beyond imagination.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that the victims were from across the Muslim world, with Turkey, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia among the countries rendering consular assistance. At least two Jordanians were among the dead, according to Jordanian foreign minister, while Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Faisal said five citizens of his country were missing.

Ardern described the spree killing as a terrorist attack and said the shooter who was not on any watchlist and did not have a criminal record, had legally purchased the two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and lever-action gun he used. “The offender was in possession of a gun licence, which he had obtained in November 2017,” she said.