A gunman opened fire at a mosque in New Zealand as people gathered for prayers, sparking a hunt for an "active" shooter in the South Island town of Christchurch.
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Armed police are deployed in the city at the Masjid Al Noor mosque where the shooting happened in Hagley Park at 1.40pm (NZT) on Friday and schools across the city are now in lockdown.
"A serious and evolving situation is occurring in Christchurch with an active shooter," Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
Gunfire was heard coming from the mosque and several people were seen on the ground outside the building, One News reported.
Several hundred people were inside 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 with as many as 40 people injured.
"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 including a woman on the floor but did not see the shooter.
Christchurch schools, the hospital and the city's university are on lockdown and residents have been told to remain indoors and report suspicious behaviour.
More to come
