[Published: Tuesday May 21 2019]
Christchurch mosques attacker charged with terrorism
AUCKLAND 21 May (ANA) - New Zealand police have charged the Australian man accused of killing 51 people and wounding dozens of others in two Christchurch mosques in March with terrorism.
In a statement released on Tuesday, police said a charge of engaging in a terrorist act under section 6A of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 had been filed against 28-year-old Brenton Tarrant.
An additional murder charge over the death of a Turkish national, who died earlier this month, and two additional attempted murder charges have also been filed, bringing the total number of murder charges against him to 51 and 40 of attempted murder.
The self-confessed white supremacist is accused of opening fire in the al-Noor and Linwood mosques on March 15 in the worst mass shooting in New Zealand's recent history.
Women and children were among those killed.
Until now, the charges against him were less expansive. Police said the decision to lay the terror charge was made after consultations with prosecutors and government legal experts.
In April, Tarrant appeared at Christchurch High Court via video link from New Zealand's only maximum security prison in Auckland more than 1,000 kilometres north of Christchurch.
He is next due to appear in court on June 14, after being remanded in custody and ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment to determine if he was fit to stand trial.(ANA)
FA/ANA/21 May 2019------
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