Attacker charged with murder, residents show solidarity following shootings in NZ

One day after the terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch shocked the world, the attacker was charged with murder on Saturday and New Zealand considered to change the country's gun law.

In the meantime, people here showed great unity after the tragedy and they gradually started to recover from the horrors.

ATTACKER CHARGED WITH MURDER, GUN LAW WILL CHANGE

Brenton Tarrant, the attacker, appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Saturday morning. The 28-year-old Australian man was charged with murder.

Tarrant, in white prison suit, barefooted, handcuffed and flanked by two armed police officers, made a brief appearance in the court.

The charging document showed the maximum penalty will be life imprisonment. He will be in custody until April 5, according to the High Court in Christchurch.

Friday's terror attacks have left at least 49 people dead and 48 injured. Tarrant was apprehended along with two other Australian men.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said on Saturday the country's gun law would be changed.

"Our gun law will be changed" said Ardern, noting that the killers had legitimate gun license.

The prime minister told the public that the suspect of the deadly attacks used modified semi-automatic weapons.

Altogether five guns were discovered, two of which were semi-automatic guns. Other weapons and firearms were also retrieved by the police.

SECURITY TIGHTENED, RESIDENTS SHOW SOLIDARITY

Major public events during the weekend have all been cancelled across New Zealand after the attacks. Security has been beefed up in places like the airport.

However, just 24 hours after New Zealand's worst ever terror attacks, the city of Christchurch has remained defiant.

Religious institutions opened their doors to all faiths as a symbol of peace, while businesses chose to stay open as a sign of strength and the people of the garden city decided to come together in a show of unity.

Not far from the mosques where the shootings happened, people came from time to time to place flowers to express their condolences to the victims.

On Saturday there's also been some inspiring stories of courage and kindness. With scores of people stranded at the airport as well as many other locations throughout the city, Christchurch cab drivers came together.

"We all decided to help the community, I thought I should give free rides to everyone," taxi driver Jagmeet Singh said.

"There are only around 40-50 taxis in town, so we didn't stop until about 10:30 p.m. (local time). I went home around 11:00 p.m."

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel on Saturday extended her condolences to the victims and their families.

She believed that Christchurch people will go through this together by "looking after each other ... in many diverse communities in our city."

"WE WILL STILL LOVE NEW ZEALAND"

The horror haunted Bangladeshi national cricket team said on Saturday "We still love New Zealand" while checking in their flight to go home at the Christchurch International Airport.

The team had gone to the Al Noor Mosque for Friday prayer in the afternoon, where the shooting spree began minutes earlier. The whole team escaped the scene, feeling frightened and frustrated.

They were due to play with New Zealand's Black Caps near Hagley Park, located in the area where the mass shooting took place.

The test match has been called off after the terror attacks.

Mushfiqur Rahim of the Bangladeshi team offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attacks.

"We still love New Zealand," he said. As a sportsman who had previously been to New Zealand, he still held the view that "New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world."

Following the attacks, Australia's leaders have expressed shock and grief, offering condolences to New Zealanders.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that one of the perpetrators was born in Australia and described the incident as a "vicious and callous, right-wing extremist attack."

The Chinese community in Christchurch has stood out following Friday's attacks on two mosques, condemning terrorism and expressing their support for the victims.

The Chinese community is closely following the situation and cares about all victims, Canton Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, an organization of local Chinese merchants, said in a statement Saturday. The chamber has urged all its members to donate money for the victims.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)