New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday denounced the shooting at two mosques that she said likely affected migrants who decided to make their home there.
“Many of those who will have been directly affected by the shooting may be migrants to New Zealand. They may even be refugees here,” she said.
“They have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home,” Ardern added. “They are us.”
[Read more: Trump: ‘The US stands by New Zealand’]
Police said 49 people were dead after mass shootings in two mosques in Christchurch. One suspect is thought to have posted a manifesto arguing for white nationalism.
But Ardern said the suspect has no place in New Zealand, and said dozens are now dead after being gunned down in a place where they should have been safe.
“The subject of this attack today, New Zealand is their home, they should be safe here,” she said. “The person who has perpetuated this violent act against them, they have no place in New Zealand society.”
“There is no place in New Zealand such extreme acts of unprecedented violence,” she said. “This is not who we are.”
