A Muslim worshipper, who was among the first people to be killed in New Zealand’s worst ever mass shooting, appeared to say “Hello, brother” to the attacker just moments before he was shot dead.
A man claiming to be a white supremacist was arrested Friday in connection with the shooting death of 49 people in two mosques. The video of the shooting, which was apparently a live stream by the shooter, shows the first victim standing at the door of the mosque, greeting the gunman, saying the words “Hello, brother.” He was then shot to death. The worshipper, who is yet to be identified, greeted the attacker as he approached the entrance of the Al Noor mosque in New Zealand’s Christchurch.
After which, many Twitter users hailed the Muslim man who greeted the attacker before he was shot dead. The hashtag #HelloBrother is gaining traction on Twitter following the massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand. Many tweets on Friday with the hashtag were accompanied by an image by an artist in Indonesia, illustrating the tragedy.
A user wrote on Twitter, “Hello, brother were the first words a Muslim worshipper said to the attacker as he entered the mosque. They were also his last words before he was shot to death. My heart is shattered.”
“The first victim of the terrorist attack in New Zealand is shown on the video greeting the gunman with Hello Brother. Those were his last words. Love in the face of hate,” another said.
In the deadliest incident of violence in New Zealand in over seven decades, at least 49 people were killed and 48 others, including an Indian, injured when at least two gunmen, said to be right-wing extremists, opened indiscriminate fire during Friday prayers at two mosques in Christchurch city. Nine Indian nationals or persons of Indian origin were among the missing. The Bangladesh cricket team touring New Zealand had a narrow escape as the entire team had gone to one of the mosques near Hagley Park for Friday prayers.
