A gunman opened fire at a mosque in New Zealand as people gathered for prayers, sparking a major emergency in the South Island town of Christchurch.
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Armed police have been deployed in the city near where the shooting happened in Hagley Park at 1.40pm (NZT) on Friday and schools across the city are now in lockdown.
Gunfire was heard coming from the direction of the mosque and several people were seen on the ground outside the building, One News reported.
Several hundred people were inside the mosque at the time and witnesses reported seeing at least four people on the ground and "blood everywhere", according to Radio New Zealand.
One man said the scene at the mosque was chaotic.
"I heard a big sound of the gun. And a second one, I ran. Lots of people were sitting on the floor. I ran behind the mosque," he told TVNZ.
"The floor. There's lots of blood on the floor, you can see when you go in."
The man, who did not give his name said he saw four people on the floor but did not see the shooter.
"In response to a serious ongoing firearms incident in Christchurch all Christchurch schools have been placed into lockdown," NZ Police tweeted.
Christchurch Hospital and the city's university were also on lockdown.
Residents have been asked to remain indoors and report suspicious behaviour.
More to come
