Hyderabad man critical, 9 Indian-origin people ‘missing’ after New Zealand massacre

A man from Hyderabad was among those shot at in the horrific massacre at one of the two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city on Friday.

Ahmed Jehangir, who was at Al Noor Mosque for Friday prayers, was injured and taken to hospital, his brother Khursheed Iqbal Jehangir told IANS in Hyderabad.

"My brother was shot in his chest. A video I received shows him lying on stretcher," Khursheed said.

Ahmed, settled in New Zealand for 15 years, runs a Hyderabadi food restaurant near Al Noor Mosque. His family members were safe.

An anxious Khursheed was waiting for more information from New Zealand. He wants to rush to New Zealand to be with his brother and sought help of Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

MP Asaduddin Owaisi, President of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Party tweeted to Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao about the incident.

Ahmed's brother would like to go to New Zealand for his family, Owaisi said.

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president requested Sushma Swaraj and Telangana CM to make necessary arrangements for Khursheed's travel to New Zealand.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao said he would request NRI department to help the family.

Sanjiv Kohli, the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand tweeted that nine persons of Indian origin are missing after the attack in Christchurch, but official confirmation is still awaited.

“This is one of New Zealand’s darkest days,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. “Clearly what has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.” Ardern said New Zealand had been placed on its highest security threat level. She said the four people in police custody held extremist views, but had not been on any police watchlists.

In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that India's High Commission in New Zealand is in touch with local authorities for more information.

"Our mission is in touch with local authorities to ascertain more details. It is a sensitive matter and therefore we can't give confirmed numbers/names till we are absolutely certain," he said.

India's High Commission in New Zealand on Friday said that any Indian national affected by the attacks on two Christchurch mosques can contact the mission for assistance.

Expressing shock over the incident, the mission tweeted two contact numbers 021803899 and 021850033 for providing assistance.

"We are shocked to hear about the shooting in Christchurch. Any Indians needing assistance should contact us at 021803899 or 021850033," the Twitter account of the Indian High Commission in New Zealand said.

Approximately 200,000 Indian and Indian-origin people live in New Zealand. There are over 30,000 Indian students in the country, according to the Indian High Commission's data on its website.