Christchurch: Bangladesh’s cricket team escaped unscathed after a shooting at a mosque in central Christchurch, an official told AFP on Friday.
Several people were reported dead when a gunman opened fire at a crowded mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, during afternoon prayers Friday.
The Masjid al Noor was filled with worshippers, including members of the Bangladesh cricket team.
Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Jalal Yunus said most of the team were bussed to the mosque and were about to go inside when the incident happened.
“They are safe. But they are mentally shocked. We have asked the team to stay confined in the hotel,” he told AFP.
All members of the Bangladesh Cricket Team in Christchurch, are safely back in the hotel following the incident of shooting in the city.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is in constant contact with the players and team management.#ChristchurchMosqueAttack pic.twitter.com/TTpIFxLp05
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 15, 2019
#Bangladesh #Cricket team escaped from the #Mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval#NewZealand pic.twitter.com/GI6pIEFszJ
— Manoj Gupta (@PassionForNews) March 15, 2019
Player Tamim Iqbal tweeted that it was a “frightening experience” and that there were “active shooters”.
“Entire team got saved from active shooters!!!” tweeted Tamim Iqbal. “Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers.”
Entire team got saved from active shooters!!! Frightening experience and please keep us in your prayers #christchurchMosqueAttack
— Tamim Iqbal Khan (@TamimOfficial28) March 15, 2019
Wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim thanked Alla (SWT) and his fortunes for his team being safe despite the attack.
Alhamdulillah Allah save us today while shooting in Christchurch in the mosque…we r extremely lucky…never want to see this things happen again….pray for us
— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) March 15, 2019
Local media said there were multiple casualties at one mosque and that another had been evacuated.
One witness told stuff.co.nz he was praying in the Deans Ave mosque when he heard shooting and saw his wife lying dead on the footpath outside when he fled.
Another man said he saw children being shot.
“There were bodies all over me,” he said.
An eyewitness told Radio New Zealand he heard shots fired and four people were lying on the ground, with “blood everywhere”.
Unconfirmed reports said the shooter was wearing military-style clothing.
[source_without_link]AFP inputs[/source_without_link]