New Zealand commemorates victims of shooting attacks

3/30/2019 - 6:13:10 PM

A national remembrance service has been organized in New Zealand to commemorate the victims of the shooting attacks at the two mosques in the quiet city of Christchurch two weeks ago.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (Source: AP)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was joined by representatives from 59 nations, including her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. The event also drew tens of thousands of people to attend.

In her speech, Ardern said, "violence and extremism in all its forms is not welcome here".

"The world has been stuck in a vicious cycle of extremism breeding extremism and it must end,”

"We cannot confront these issues alone, none of us can ... The answer lies in our humanity. But for now we will remember the tears of our nation and the new resolve we have formed.”

"We each hold the power - in our words, in our actions, in our daily acts of kindness - let that be the legacy of the 15th of March,” Ardern added.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the attacks as "one of New Zealand's darkest days". It is the deadliest mass shooting in modern New Zealand history.

Security was tight around the service and New Zealand remains on high security alert. Police Commissioner Mike Bush said it was one of the largest security events ever conducted by the police.

New Zealand has established a royal commission of inquiry into security agencies in the wake of the attacks.

On March 15th, an attacker armed with semi-automatic weapons rampaged through two mosques in the quiet New Zealand city of Christchurc, killing 50 worshipers and wounding dozens more.

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