Death toll of New Zealand mosque shooting rises to 50
What we know so far
? Several gunmen opened fire at two mosques in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday afternoon, leaving 50 people dead.
? New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the attack as one of her country's "darkest days"
? An Australian citizen in his late 20s appeared in court Saturday, charged with murder
? Two others were arrested in the immediate aftermath of the shootings
? Suspect reportedly uses modified semi-automatic weapons
? Arden said the nation’s gun laws will change
? Major social media remove shooting video of terror attacks
The death toll in the New Zealand mosque shootings rose to 50 on Sunday after police found another victim at one of the mosques, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said bodies of those killed would begin to be released to families for burial.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with murder on Saturday. Tarrant was remanded without a plea and is due back in court on April 5 where police said he was likely to face more charges.
Friday's attack, which Ardern labeled as terrorism, was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand and the country had raised its security threat level to the highest.
Footage of the attack on one of the mosques was broadcast live on Facebook, and a "manifesto" denouncing immigrants as "invaders" was also posted online via links to related social media accounts.
It is customary in Islam to bury the dead within 24 hours but no bodies have been released because of the investigation, police said.
Arden said bodies would be handed over to families from Sunday evening.
"It is likely, however, to be a small number to begin with," she told a media briefing, adding that all should be returned by Wednesday.
Ardern said police would be posted at all mosques while they are open.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the body of the 50th victim was found at the Al Noor mosque, where more than 40 people died after a gunman entered and shot at people with a semi-automatic rifle with high-capacity magazines, before travelling to a second mosque.
