New Zealand begins investigation into Christchurch mosque attacks

The New Zealand authorities have begun an inquiry into the Christchurch mosque attacks to investigate the events of March 15, 2019 when 51 Muslims were killed in attacks on two mosques and suggest preventive measures for the future.

The six-week inquiry, overseen by Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley, will investigate the day’s events, including emergency responses, and issues such as the malfunction of an emergency exit at a mosque.

According to the Radio New Zealand, Windley said the inquiry attempts to shed light “to the cause and circumstances of death,” and “to look to the future, whether comments or recommendations may be made, to reduce the chances of further deaths in similar circumstances.”

Corncerning what the inquest aims at, Windley emphasized that the focus was not on establishing liability or negligence, but rather on holding individuals accountable.

Nearly 5,000 images, 3,000 audio files, and 80 hours of video evidence will be examined by the inquest. More than 600 people are slotted to attend the hearing in-person over the course of the six weeks.