‘Worst kind of shock’: Local Muslim community reacts to deadly Christchurch mosque shooting

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand have left a country — and global community — mourning the loss of 49 people.

Four people were taken into custody, and one has since been charged, following the mass shooting which targeted worshipers attending Friday prayer.

Leaders from around the world have condemned the attacks, with some saying it’s evidence of a rising tide of violent anti-Islam sentiment.

In Metro Vancouver, the Muslim community is also reeling.

Friday is considered the holiest day of the week in Islam, and most mosques see a surge in their congregation, Imam Yahya Momla with the B.C. Muslim Association of Burnaby explains.

Momla says he and other Imams across Canada are discussing the attack in their sermons.

“It’s always a hard topic to discuss, especially when it’s so fresh in everyone’s minds,” he told NEWS 1130. “My message would be a mix of strengthening our resolve, as well as condolences to the grieving families here [and in] New Zealand, as well as prayers for the victims.”

Read more: Canada’s threat level not changing, in wake of New Zealand mass shooting

He notes there is a large Fijian community here in Metro Vancouver, many of which with relatives in New Zealand. He expects to hear from members who are affected by the attack.

Momla has had conversations with some of the members of the Muslim community, who he describes as feeling mixed emotions.

“It was a mix of shock and disbelief, mixed with a little bit of extra precautions,” he said, adding there are discussions ongoing to possibly add security measures to mosques across the Lower Mainland.

It’s a similar discussion that took place after the Quebec City mosque shooting in 2017.

Momla adds the community has been in touch with both the RCMP and Vancouver Police, “who have assured us that they are adding patrols in and around the mosques that fall within their areas.”

The VPD says it has a positive relationship with the local Muslim community, and that it is in close contact to ensure everyone feels “safe and supported.”

“The VPD does not have any information that links the events in New Zealand to Vancouver,” Constable Jason Doucette said in an email. “We have security experts that are in regular communication with other local, national and international agencies to share information and strategies.”

Police are encouraging anyone who sees anything suspicious to report it.

Hard to express emotions

“I’m in the worst kind of shock with the news,” Abdu Al Jarsha told reporters following morning prayer at Al-Masjid Al-Jamia Vancouver. “The minute we heard the news, and the news developed and more victims were being declared by the authorities there.”

He describes New Zealand as an “immigration country,” adding Canada is similar in that they are both tolerant with new comers.

“This is a barbaric attack, a terrorist attack,” Al Jarsha said. “We can condemn it with the strongest words, but this is an invitation right now for everyone to stand together against terrorism, against bigotry, against racism, prejudice. Name it what you want.”

He adds people are sickened, afraid, and angry, and are short of words following the devastating attack.

Others tell reporters the attack was a reminder of the deadly mosque shooting in Quebec City just two years ago, which left six people dead.

“It’s very hard to find the right word to express what happened,” Badre Hassani said.

Hassani notes, however, that he saw Canadians come together following the Quebec City attack, and remembers people from all religions banding together to show their support.

“These tiny minority of crazy people, I would say, sick people I think they are, they do this just to get on the news. But I trust most human beings are against this,” he said. “I feel sorry for the families for their loss, and I hope they will go through this one. There’s a lot to learn from this.”

FILE PHOTO: A large crowd gathers in Vancouver for a vigil in honour of those killed in the Quebec City mosque shooting in January, 2017. (Lasia Kretzel, NEWS 1130 Photo)

Despite the shooting, Hassani says he feels safe here in Canada, and has no concerns. “Just, I’m sad.”

Fear for some, determination for others: vigils planned

The Christchurch shooting comes just days before the International Day Against Racism.

Imtiez Popat with the Coalition Against Bigotry says he was horrified to hear of the attack, adding he never thought it would happened in a place like New Zealand.

He points to different attacks around the world, and adds Muslims “are just not feeling safe.”

“Every time an attack like this happens, we just look around our shoulder and see how people are feeling or what people are thinking, that someone can run us down or shoot us because of who we are,” he said.

However, in response to the attack, Popat says he felt the need for people to come together. The coalition — along with members of Al-Masjid Al-Jamia and the Coalition Against Bigotry — are planning a vigil for Friday evening at the Vancouver mosque. It will be open to anyone who wants to attend, similar to the vigil held following the Quebec City mosque shooting.

“When the shooting happened in Quebec, people simultaneously started to gather around that mosque because it is an icon,” Popat said, adding the Al-Jamia mosque was the first one established in B.C.

“So when this happened in New Zealand, I called Haroon who is with the Pakistan Canada Association,” he added.

Special prayers were also offered in Friday prayers at the Vancouver mosque.

The vigil will take place at 7:30 p.m. following evening prayers.

Anyone is welcome to speak at the vigil. “Multi-faith, it doesn’t matter what your background is, the space will be opened up for everyone after the evening prayers tonight,” Popat said.

Meantime, another vigil is being held in Victoria at Centennial Square, near City Hall. It will take place between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Organizers are encouraging people to join and speak, and say candles will be lit and supportive notes will be written.

‘It was horrific’: New Zealand shaken

“This is completely unprecedented for New Zealand,” Chelsea Daniels, a local reporter with News Talk ZB told NEWS 1130. “We’re used to things shaking and things on fire really here. We’re used to natural disaster, nothing man-made. This is completely out of the ordinary for us.”

It’s the country’s deadliest shooting tragedy, with Prime Minister Jacinda Arden describing it as terrorism.

“These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand and in fact have no place in the world,” she said.

Read more: 49 killed in mass shootings at New Zealand mosques

The attack stunned a community which is in the stages of rebuilding following an earthquake in 2011, which left 185 dead.

Police say the shootings were part of a carefully planned and executed racist attack. Two explosive devices were also found and disarmed.

Dozens of people are also being treated in hospital for injuries, some of them reportedly young children.

The suspect left a manifesto, dozens of pages long, where he talks about being inspired by other mass shooters and calls immigration, Muslims and Islam, the enemy.

There are also images online suggesting one of his influences was Alexandre Bissonnette, the Quebec City mosque shooter.

Live stream taken down

The attack was also reportedly live streamed on Facebook for 17 minutes by the accused gunman.

Despite pleas from police in New Zealand not to share the footage, the video had been circulating widely online, having been spotted on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube.

Facebook says it quickly removed the video after being alerted by police, while YouTube says it’s working vigilantly to remove any violent footage.

Anna Coren, CNN’s International Correspondent, says the video starts as the gunman is driving to the first mosque and ends at the second.

“It was absolutely chilling, we were in tears watching this because it was cold, it was calculated. This was somebody who had no, no feeling whatsoever.”

-With files from Ash Kelly, Toby Kerr, and Lasia Kretzel