New Zealand, Christchurch Mosque shooting video appears online and people are looking for it:
On March 15, 2019, a horrific act of terrorism unfolded in Christchurch, New Zealand, where a lone gunman attacked two mosques, Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, during Friday prayers. This event resulted in the deaths of 51 people and injuries to many others, marking it as one of the most deadly mass shootings in New Zealand’s history.
The perpetrator, Brenton Tarrant, an Australian national, not only committed these acts but also live-streamed the first attack on the social media platform, making it a chilling example of livestreamed terror in the digital age.
The Livestream:
Tarrant used a GoPro camera mounted on his helmet to broadcast the attack live on Facebook, providing a first-person perspective of the massacre.
The footage was described as resembling a video game, with Tarrant moving through the mosque, shooting indiscriminately at worshippers. The video captured him entering the mosque, driving to the next location, and even included moments where he commented on his actions.
This 16-minute and 55-second long video was later classified as “objectionable” by New Zealand’s Chief Censor, making it illegal to possess, share, or host within New Zealand.
Aftermath and Spread of the Footage:
Following the attack, the footage spread rapidly across various social media platforms. Within the first 24 hours, over 1.5 million videos were removed by Facebook globally, with more than 1.2 million blocked at upload.
Despite these efforts, the video continued to circulate due to numerous users re-uploading versions of the footage, both in its original form and edited. Social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram struggled to contain the spread, with new copies appearing faster than they could be taken down.
The video’s dissemination highlighted significant challenges in moderating content on these platforms, especially during such critical events.
Legal and Societal Repercussions:
The sharing of the video led to immediate legal consequences. For instance, Philip Arps, a New Zealand man, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sharing the footage with about 30 people. Arps had also created a modified version of the video with additional graphics to glorify the attack, further emphasizing the hateful intent behind disseminating such content.
The incident spurred a broader conversation about digital content regulation, hate speech, and the responsibilities of social media companies in managing violent extremist content.
New Zealand, alongside France, launched the “Christchurch Call,” an initiative aiming to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online, which saw participation from multiple governments and tech companies.
Public Reaction and Media Coverage:
The public response was one of shock, grief, and a strong call for action against hate and terrorism. Media outlets faced dilemmas in covering the event; while some initially shared snippets of the video to report the news, they quickly retracted this approach following public backlash and ethical considerations.
There was a consensus to avoid giving notoriety to the shooter by not showing his face or sharing the video, focusing instead on the victims and the community’s response to the tragedy.
Long-term Impact:
The Christchurch mosque shootings and the subsequent spread of the footage had a lasting impact on how violent content is managed online, especially in real-time scenarios. It underscored the necessity for better tools and policies for content moderation, the ethical considerations of journalism in the digital age, and the urgent need for international cooperation to combat online hate and extremism.
The event also led to significant legislative changes in New Zealand, including stricter gun control laws and efforts to combat hate speech and terrorism, reflecting a societal shift towards preventing future tragedies.
In conclusion, the Christchurch mosque shooting footage from 2019 not only documented an act of terror but also became a catalyst for change in how societies and tech platforms address and respond to such heinous acts in the digital era. The memory of this event continues to influence global discussions on security, digital ethics, and the fight against extremism.
Who is Brenton Tarrant?
Brenton Harrison Tarrant is an Australian white supremacist who was responsible for one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern history, targeting two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15, 2019.
Born on October 27, 1990, in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, Tarrant grew up in a relatively normal environment but became radicalized over time, influenced by far-right ideologies and online extremist content. Before the attack, he had no criminal record, worked various jobs including as a personal trainer, and traveled extensively around the world.
The Christchurch Mosque Shooting:
On March 15, 2019, Tarrant carried out his attack during Friday prayers, first at the Al Noor Mosque and then at the Linwood Islamic Centre. He killed 51 people and injured 40 others. Tarrant live-streamed the massacre on Facebook, using a head-mounted camera, which not only allowed him to broadcast his actions but also his hateful ideology.
His actions were motivated by white supremacist beliefs, with the intent to incite racial tensions and terrorize the Muslim community.
Legal Consequences:
- Arrest and Charges: Tarrant was arrested shortly after the attack when his vehicle was rammed by police. He was initially charged with one count of murder, but this was later expanded to include 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one charge of engaging in a terrorist act.
- Guilty Plea: In March 2020, Tarrant pleaded guilty to all charges, which was somewhat surprising given his initial not guilty plea in 2019.
- Sentencing: On August 27, 2020, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a sentence unprecedented in New Zealand’s legal history until that point. Justice Cameron Mander described Tarrant’s actions as “inhuman” and his crimes as “so wicked that even if you are detained until you die, it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment.”
- Appeals: Despite his guilty plea and life sentence, Tarrant filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence in November 2022, claiming he was subjected to “inhuman or degrading treatment” while in solitary confinement. However, no hearing date for this appeal has been set as of the last updates.
Post-Sentencing:
- Imprisonment: Tarrant is currently serving his sentence at Auckland Prison, New Zealand’s only maximum-security unit. His incarceration incurs significantly higher costs than typical prisoners due to increased security measures.
- Legal Challenges: Apart from his appeal against the conviction, Tarrant also sought judicial review of his prison conditions in April 2023, but later dropped this challenge.
- Public and Legal Discourse: His case has led to broader discussions on gun control, hate speech, and the radicalization process facilitated by online platforms. New Zealand responded with a swift ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons and introduced new laws to prevent similar acts in the future.
The Christchurch mosque shootings have had a profound impact on New Zealand society, leading to increased community solidarity, significant policy changes, and a global call for better management of extremist content online. Tarrant’s name has been notably avoided in public discourse to deny him infamy, with many referring to him simply as “the individual” or avoiding mention altogether.
