Two police officers who risked their lives to stop a man accused of killing 51 at two mosques in New Zealand have been awarded for their bravery.
The officers, who cannot be named pending the trial of alleged attacker Brenton Tarrant, dragged the suspect out of a car after the mass shootings in Christchurch in March.
The suspect was heading to a third mosque where he could have carried out more atrocities when the officers arrested him and took him into custody.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern handed the bravery awards to the hero officers in a private ceremony on Wednesday.
"All officers wonder how they would respond when faced with a split-second decision to risk their lives," Chris Cahill, the president of the New Zealand Police Association, said in a statement.
"These two officers have answered that question by responding with outstanding bravery, which protected many others from further harm."
The award recipients said they were part of a huge operation that led to the arrest.
"In doing our job, we represented all police staff around the country who put themselves in harm's way every day," they said in a statement issued by police.
Australian national Tarrant has pleaded not guilty to 92 charges stemming from the massacre.
