The two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand are reopened Saturday after deadly attack by a single gunman killed 50 and wounded dozen others worshipers, with many survivors among the first to walk in and pray for those claimed in mass shootings.
People came in unison at Al Noor mosque as they offered prayers with armed police on site, but no sign reminders of the mass shooting – the first targeted masjid where more than 40 killed by a suspected white supremacist.
Aden Diriye, who lost his 3-year-old son, Mucad Ibrahim, in the attack, came back to the mosque with his friends expressing faith to Allah as saying He is “great”.
“I am very happy,” he said after praying. “Allah is great to us. I was back as soon as we rebuilt, to pray,” Reuters quoted.
Most victims were migrants or refugees and their deaths reverberated across the Islamic world, which New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern quickly denounced as a terrorist attack.
Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan labelled the attack assail to human dignity during his visit to Al Noor Mosque.
“This is a moment of deep anguish for all of us, all of humanity,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
According to local police, officials were reopening the Linwood mosque as well, the second target on Friday prayers last week that killed at least a dozen.
Ashif Shaikh, another worshipers who lost two of his housemates in Al Noor mosque, came back on Saturday saying he would not be deterred.
“It is the place where we pray, where we meet, we’ll be back, yeah,” he said.
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New Zealand has been under heightened security alert since the attack with Ardern moving quickly with a new tough law banning some of the guns used in the March 15 shooting.
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