New Zealand marks 5-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand public, government leaders and Muslim community on Friday marked the five-year anniversary of terrorist attacks that claimed 51 worshippers in two Christchurch mosques on March 15, 2019.

"March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters in Christchurch, the largest city in New Zealand's South Island.

The fifth anniversary fell on the mandatory Islamic Friday prayer, the occasion of which was targeted by the gunman five years ago.

Friday was a solemn but important day as the trauma of the survivors is ongoing, said Abdur Razzaq of the Federation of Islamic Associations.

People in New Zealand should be able to go about their lives without fear, Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins said, adding that lessons should be learned and necessary changes will be made.

New Zealand has tightened the regulation of guns and banned military-style semi-automatic weapons following the terrorist attacks.

The terrorist, Brenton Tarrant, is currently serving a term of life imprisonment without parole on murder, attempted murder and terrorism charges sentenced in August 2020 after he pleaded guilty to all the charges.