Christchurch gunman planned to attack 3rd mosque

CHRISTCHURCH: The gunman who killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city in 2019 had plans to target a third mosque, it was revealed at his sentencing hearing on Monday. The sentencing hearing, which will last four days, began on Monday morning in Christchurch, reports the BBC.

COVID-19 restrictions mean the main court room is relatively empty. Hundreds will watch the proceedings on video feeds from other courtrooms in the city to allow for social distancing measures.

Dressed in grey prison clothes and surrounded in the dock by three police officers, the gunman, Australian national Brenton Tarrant, reportedly remained silent, occasionally looking around the room where survivors and relatives of the victims were sitting.

Crown Prosecutor Barnaby Hawes told the court that the gunman had began formulating a plan years earlier, and his goal was to "inflict as many fatalities as possible". (IANS)

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