Author: Dennis Romero / Source: NBC News
The suspect behind the unprecedented mosque attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, was en route to a third target when he was intercepted by authorities, police commissioner Mike Bush said at a news conference Wednesday.
“We strongly believe we stopped him on the way to a further attack,” he said.
“So lives were saved by our staff, courageous in their intervention.”The commissioner said that police went to the suspected third destination Friday to check for explosive devices. Bush wouldn’t say if the third site was a mosque or something else, but he did describe it as being in the region that contains Christchurch — “right across Canterbury actually.”
“We absolutely believe we know where he was going,” the commissioner said.
The shooter killed 50 people when he opened fire during Friday prayers at two mosques, Masjid Al Noor and Dar Al Hijrah. The mosques are nearly three miles apart in Christchurch.
Bush said officers arrived at the scene of the attack within five minutes, 39 seconds, and that “within 21 minutes the person that is now in custody was arrested.”
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