Man fled to New Zealand to find refuge
A Syrian refugee and his teenage sons, a Pakistani academic and a goalkeeper on the national futsal team are among the victims of Friday’s terror attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand.
According to a police statement on Sunday, 50 people were killed and 50 injured after a gunman went on a rampage in two mosques, the biggest massacre in New Zealand’s modern history.
The victims were targeted as they gathered at the mosques for Friday prayers, leaving the country’s Muslim community — and the world — in mourning.
As authorities begin to release information on the victims, here’s what we know:
Daoud Nabi
Daoud Nabi sought asylum in New Zealand more than 40 years ago after fleeing Afghanistan with his two sons.
Christchurch, the place he’s called home since 1977, offered hope and safety for him and his family.
Authorities have not released details and information on the victims, but his son, Yama Nabi, confirmed his death.
Naeem and Talha Rashid
Naeem Rashid, 50, and his son Talha Rashid, 21, were among nine Pakistanis who were killed in the mosques, according to Mohammad Faisal, spokesman for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Rashid has been praised for rushing the attacker during the attack, possibly preventing more deaths.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan announced via Twitter on Sunday that Naeem will receive a posthumous award for his bravery.
“We stand ready to extend all our support to the families of Pakistani victims of the terrorist attack in Christchurch. Pakistan is proud of Mian Naeem Rashid who was martyred trying to tackle the White Supremacist terrorist <><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> <><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><> <><><><><& his courage will be recognized with a national award."/ppSpeaking to CNN in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Dr. Khurshid Alam said his brother, the elder Rashid, was an academic who been living in New Zealand for seven years./pp"He used to teach at a university," Alam said. "My nephew (Talha) was a student."/ppSohail Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, Syed Areeb Ahmed and Mahboob Haroon/ppPakistani nationals Sohail Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, Syed Areeb Ahmed and Mahboob Haroon died in the attack, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Saturday./ppShah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign minister of Pakistan, posted a statement on Twitter, along with pictures of those six victims./pp"My heart is filled with sorrow as I confirm the deaths of the following Pakistanis who embraced Shahadat in the horrific terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand," Qureshi's tweet read. "To their families, I express my deepest sympathies and promise to facilitate them to the best of our abilities."/ppGhulam Hussain, Karam Bibi and Zeeshan Raza/ppOn Sunday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added Zeeshan Raza along with his father, Ghulam Hussain and his mother, Karam Bibi to the list of Pakistanis killed in the massacre./ppThe three had previously been listed as missing./ppAtta Elayyan/ppAtta Elayyan, a 33-year-old goalkeeper for the New Zealand national futsal team, was killed in the attack, according to thea href="https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/74347" target="_blank" New Zealand Football association/a./pp"I received a phone call and my whole world just came crashing down. I've lost a part of me," said his friend and fellow goalkeeper, Hamish Mitchell. "We've formed not just a friendship, a brotherhood, it's just unbelievable."/ppAnother friend, Hady Osman, told CNN it was Elayyan's s "dream to represent New Zealand in a futsal world cup," adding that not only was Elayyan a talented sportsman but incredibly passionate about his work as a UI/UX designer. On holiday last year, Osman said Elayyan taught him how to ski, saying that his friend's positive attitude and encouraging ways embodied his character./pp"He gives everyone around him belief and confidence that anything is possible," Osman said./ppAdded his friend Ronan Naicker: "He was just a true gentleman, a true leader, someone who was there for everyone. He was really intelligent guy, he had his own company working in apps to the point that some of the younger boys would go to him for advice and he'd talk to them about life, work," said Naicker./ppElayyan leaves behind a young daughter and a wife./ppOn Sunday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry in a statement identified Elayyan as one of six Palestinians killed in the attacks. The ministry did not provide his citizenship./ppAbdel Fattah Qassem Al-Dokki, Ali Al-Madani, Amgad Hamid, Osama Abu Kowik and Kamal Darwish/ppThe statement also named five other Palestinians who were killed in the shooting, identifying them as Abdel Fattah Qassem Al-Dokki, Ali Al-Madani, Amgad Hamid, Osama Abu Kowik and Kamal Darwish./ppLike Elayyan, the statement did not specify where the victims held citizenship./ppKhaled Mustafa /ppKhaled Mustafa, a refugee from Syria, was killed in the attack, Syrian Solidarity New Zealand said on its Facebook page. He was at the mosque with his two sons for Friday prayers when the shooter opened fire./pp"Khaled Mustafa is a Syrian Refugee who has come with his family (wife and three children) to NZ, which they thought was the safe heaven, in 2018," Syrian Solidarity New Zealand a href="https://www.facebook.com/SyrianSolidarityNewZealand/photos/a.695995363834116/1727219010711741/?type=3><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><> <><><><><><> <><><><> 4 unnamed Jordanians Four Jordanians were killed, and five who were wounded are being treated in the hospital, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia were among the countries whose nationals were involved in the attack. She said on Sunday that authorities had started returning identified bodies to families, and that the bodies of all victims would be returned by Wednesday. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Ardern said: “They have chosen to make New Zealand their home and it is their home. They are us. The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not. They have no place in New Zealand. There is no place in New Zealand for such acts of extreme and unprecedented violence.” On Monday, authorities said that of the injured, 31 people remain in Christchurch Hospital, including nine in intensive care. Two more people are in hospital in Auckland. Suspect Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who broadcast the attack live on Facebook, has been charged with one count of murder, but officials have said additional charges are forthcoming. This story will be updated as more information on the victims becomes available.
