
One week from the Christchurch terrorist attack, New Zealanders came together in a national day of reflection to remember those who died while worshipping inside 2 mosques in the South Island city.
What she's saying: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addressed thousands of people gathered at Hagley Park, Christchurch, saying: "New Zealand mourns with you. We are one."
Details: Just before 1:30 pm Friday local time (8:30 pm Thursday Eastern), the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, rang out across the country's TV and radio airwaves before people around the country gathered at vigils observed 2 minutes of silence.
The big picture: The events coincided with the Friday prayer, the Jumu'ah. Addressing the congregation at Haggley Park, Al Noor Mosque Imam Gamal Fouda said:
The latest: Across the country, thousands of people held vigils to remember the Christchurch mosque attack victims. In Auckland, 4 mosques opened their doors to all New Zealanders. As a result, many non-Muslims attended Friday prayers there.
- Following afternoon prayers at 4 pm local time, a combined funeral service was held for 26 people killed victims.
- The youngest attack victim, Mucaad Ibrahim, 3, was among those buried Friday.
- Several thousand people attended a vigil at the Auckland Domain at 6 pm — the oldest park in the country's most populous city.
- Many people formed "human chains of love" around mosques across the country.
Human chain forming around Wellington mosque before Friday prayer pic.twitter.com/h2ooe3INs4
— Veronika Meduna (@VeronikaMeduna) March 22, 2019