The terror attack in New Zealand has left at least 49 people dead and 20 others seriously injured after a gunman opened fire on a mosque in central Christchurch.
Four people have been arrested in relation to the incident, one of which is said to be a 28-year-old Australian man, who reportedly live streamed the attack on Facebook prior to making an Islamophobic speech.
It is reported that he left a 74-page manifesto where he explained his actions, which are said to include far-right and anti-immigration motivations.
This highly distressing incident has led to widespread condemnation of the perpetrator online and the avenues as to how he was radicalised and provoked into carrying out this attack.
Writer and New York Times contributor Wajahat Ali has put together a powerful thread on Twitter, explaining how the attack in Christchurch affects not just Muslim communities but everyone.
In the 11 post thread, he explains how the terrorist has imitated the attacks of Anders Brevik and others who have carried out similar acts, and how an underlining white supremacy ideology is being fed to 'angry, disaffected men'.
Let me quickly explain why the Christchurch mosque shooting affects many of us, not just Muslim communities. If the… https://t.co/ntYV1bd9c7— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552623351
He wrote a manifesto, just like Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik. He cites right wing personalities and milit… https://t.co/HE7CSBuycV— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552623431
Like mass murderer Breivik, he wants to punish Muslims and immigrants for allegedly invading his soil, he wants to… https://t.co/P9zTYGWx3g— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552623505
He left behind a video, live streamed his rampage w/ a camera on his head, making it like first person video game D… https://t.co/5aqhBqpnzX— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552623601
Compare this to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter in Pittsburgh. He killed 11 Jewish worshippers. He shared a post… https://t.co/t1xKLrSr0O— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552623839
The underlining ideology anchoring all of this is White supremacy and their main fear is "replacement." That the im… https://t.co/Xiwf4eva8Z— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552623930
We are dealing with angry, disaffected men, mostly White, who find purpose & community with these extremist groups… https://t.co/TNldK6LhqC— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552624124
Pay attention. Take this extremist ideology & terror threat seriously. Be wary of politicians, academics & media he… https://t.co/RVwDYZeyyZ— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1552624392
Ali's thread has since been retweeted more than 14,000 times and many people agree with what he has to say.
@WajahatAli We are living through a clash of ignorance while the media, politicians etc. Want to make it out to be… https://t.co/zQ1J6U4sE7— Riz (@Riz) 1552624726
@WajahatAli @doctor_oxford Read all the threads. The warnings and predictions fill me with fear. There is a deep r… https://t.co/f3nbpkfsXA— 🐎Jennifer🐎 (@🐎Jennifer🐎) 1552631925
@WajahatAli Thank you for these insightful tweets. I am an American living in Christchurch. When the mosque was spr… https://t.co/KBQZkCdVJ7— Scott Fack (@Scott Fack) 1552627419
@WajahatAli @lindahubbardart Excellent summary. The irony of a white Australian feeling this bitter hatred towards… https://t.co/55vsdBmuNP— Philip Harris (@Philip Harris) 1552632721
Please take time to read this. Hate can induce terrorism. So free speech can be dangerous. White nationalists terr… https://t.co/QdJWdbxWnY— Ligwina Hananto (@Ligwina Hananto) 1552640736
More: When this Muslim man was confronted by an Islamophobic troll, he had the most amazing response
