Justin Trudeau offers condolences in call with New Zealand PM

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – Justin Trudeau has spoken with his counterpart in New Zealand on Saturday, offering his condolences for the 50 people killed and dozens injured following Friday’s shootings at two mosques in Christchurch.

The Prime Minister’s Office says Trudeau told Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that Canada shares New Zealand’s feelings of grief and loss, recalling the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting.

One man has been arrested and charged with murder in what appears to have been a carefully planned racist attack in New Zealand.

RELATED: ‘Worst kind of shock’: Local Muslim community reacts to deadly Christchurch mosque shooting

There are unconfirmed reports that the shooter was influenced by Alexandre Bissonnette, the shooter convicted of six counts of first-degree murder in the Quebec attack. A now-deleted Twitter account believed to be linked to the accused Christchurch shooter appeared to show three assault-rifle magazines, one of which has Bissonnette’s name on it.

Trudeau’s office says he offered Canada’s support and the leaders agreed to stay in touch and “work together on their shared priority of ensuring safe, secure and open societies.”

The Prime Minister is set to visit an Ottawa-area mosque Sunday in the wake of the attacks.

WATCH: Death toll rises to 50 in New Zealand mosque shooting

Meanwhile, Ardern says the bodies of the 50 people killed will start being released to family members beginning Sunday evening. Ardern says only a small number of bodies will be released initially, and that authorities hope to release all the bodies by Wednesday.

Islamic law calls for bodies to be cleansed and buried as soon as possible after death, usually within 24 hours. Anguished relatives have been anxiously waiting for authorities to release the remains.

RELATED: New Zealand PM says gun laws to change after mosque attack

The Prime Minister has also reiterated her promise that there will be changes to the country’s gun laws. New Zealand has fewer restrictions on rifles or shotguns than many countries, while handguns are more tightly controlled.

A fund set up to help the families of the victims has raised over 4.3 million New Zealand dollars ($3 million). The page on the site givealittle was created by a council of victim support groups. The group said all the money would go directly to victims and their families, and that some would need it for bills, while others might need it for support services

The Canadian Press

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today