Four-year-old boy shot in Christchurch massacre fighting for life as victims tell of their horror

Christchurch: A four-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a mass shooting at central Christchurch mosque.

Hesham, who did not want his last name published, said his best friend's younger brother was in Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition. He himself arrived at the second mosque in Linwood moments after a shooting there.

"They're saying he's not going to make it," he said of his friend's brother.

Families seen outside a mosque following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.Credit: AAP

Hesham knew of two people, a man and woman in their 50s, who had been killed.

"They both were active within the community, always trying to better the community, getting things done. These two people were very involved within the management of the mosque and very active in the community teaching kids."

New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said a total of 49 people had lost their lives in the attack on two Christchurch mosques.

Sabir Hussain was deep in prayer when the leader of his Christchurch mosque halted proceedings: "Our brothers have been shot."

Inside the Linwood Masjid, in east Christchurch, witnesses reported seeing a man carrying what was thought to be a black assault rifle open fire on about 100 people praying inside. Another attack took place, also shortly before 2pm on Friday on Deans Ave.

Hussain said when the shooting started, he kept low and went into the wash and storeroom where he saw a man dead outside. He knew he "was not safe", jumped out of the window and hid behind a fence until police arrived.

Also in the washroom was Syed Ahmed, who said the man was wearing a black motorcycle helmet and camouflage clothing and shot at his friends. Some were shot while in the prayer circle.

A worshipper emerges from the Deans Ave mosque in Christchurch, hours after a shooter opened fire.Credit: George Heard/Stuff

The "indiscriminate shooting" started from outside the mosque and continued as the gunman walked through the rooms. As he walked in the man shot several elderly people sitting on chairs because they were unable to kneel for the afternoon prayer, he said.

He believed they "were basically all shot".

One man managed to escape only to find his wife lying dead on the footpath outside.

"My wife is dead," he wailed as a group of Muslim men held him.

Ahmed thought he saw at least eight people shot dead, including at least three women and two of his friends. One had been shot in the head, he said. Abdirisak Sheikh also saw people shot.

"Someone was standing next to [me] and they died."

The man came through the front door "shouting something" that "could not be heard over the screaming." Ahmed said he kept "low on the ground" before making it into the side room.

Farhaan Farheez was praying with about 100 others when the shooting started.

"I didn't know what a gun sounded like. It is customary when we are praying not to pay attention to the outside world ... gunshots kept happening and people kept praying."

Witnesses filing through the cordon on Friday afternoon said they were horrified and simply could not understand why someone would attack them while they peacefully prayed. People hugged as they passed through the tape and one man wearing a prayer robe was covered in blood.

Oakford Close resident Robert Weatherhead took in about 13 men and a boy aged about three after they escaped from Al Noor Mosque.

"One man had been shot twice - once in the abdomen and once in the shoulder...he was conscious," he told the NZ Herald.

Worshippers leaving the Deans Avenue mosque.Credit: George Heard/Stuff

Linwood Dental Centre practice manager Janine Richmond said she heard about 20 gunshots come from the Linwood mosque at about 1.45pm. She said armed offenders squad members with dogs came in and searched the clinic, which is about 50 metres from the mosque, shortly after.

"They have told us to stay here because it's not safe. We can't leave and we've been told to stay in a room and stay away from the windows."

Other neighbouring businesses said the gunfire "sounded like really heavy construction hammers". Homebrew shop Your Shout is in a bank of stores next door to the Linwood Masjid. Owner Jarryd Ford-Manson said he was in the shop when he heard a banging noise.

"It sounded like really heavy construction hammers … no-one thinks it's a gun."

When he went to investigate he saw a car parked in the driveway to the mosque, which backed out as he approached. A man then ran out of the mosque, picked up a shotgun from the ground and chased the car, throwing something at it and smashing the back window.

"He was really focused on the car."

All the shopowners retreated to their shops, where they stayed until they were told to evacuate by police, he said.

People were taken away from the mosque in a bus.

stuff.co.nz, Melissa Cunningham