GARDI WILL be in attendance for Friday prayers at mosques across Ireland, it has been confirmed.
It comes in the wake of mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand.
49 people were killed and a further 48 were injured when gunmen opened fire at two mosques in the Christchurch region of New Zealand.
As a show of support, Gardai have confirmed they will be making themselves available to Ireland’s Muslim communities in the wake of the attacks.
An announcement, made via the Gardai Twitter page reads:"To provide support to the Muslim community in Ireland after the terrible events in New Zealand, community Gardaí will be attending Friday prayer in their local mosque and making themselves available to those communities."
To provide support to the Muslim community in Ireland after the terrible events in New Zealand, community Gardaí will be attending Friday prayer in their local mosque and making themselves available to those communities.
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 15, 2019
New Zealand Police have now confirmed that three men and one woman are in custody following the attacks.
At least one of the group streamed footage of the attack live on the internet. None of the four people arrested were on New Zealand’s security and terrorism watchlist.
One has been identified as a male in his late 20s has been charged with murder and is expected to appear in court tomorrow.
A fourth person was detained but may have had nothing to do with the attacks.
Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison has since confirmed that one of those arrested was an Australian citizen.
Two explosive devices that were attached to the suspects’ vehicles were also found at the scene.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the Press Association:
“We have undoubtedly experienced an attack today that is unprecedented, unlike anything that we have experienced before.
“But, as I say, New Zealand has been chosen because we are not a place where violent extremism exists.
“We reject those notions and we must continue to reject them. This is not an enclave for that kind of behaviour, for that kind of ideology.
“We will and must reject it. This is a place where people should feel secure and will feel secure.
“I am not going to let this change New Zealand’s profile, none of us should.”
“What has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”
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