A white supremacist killed 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques.
Updated 20 Aug 2026
During Friday prayers on 15 March 2019, an armed white supremacist attacked Al Noor Mosque and then Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch. [1]
Fifty-one people were killed and forty were injured. The attacker pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder, and terrorism charges and received life imprisonment without parole. [2]
7 sourced milestones
Major events in the case, shown in chronological order.
A white supremacist attacked Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre during Friday prayers, killing 51 people and injuring 40.
Source: Royal Commission of Inquiry ↗Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles six days after the attacks.
Source: New Zealand Government ↗The defendant pleaded guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and one charge of engaging in a terrorist act.
Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice ↗The High Court sentenced the attacker to life imprisonment without parole, the first such sentence imposed in New Zealand.
Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice ↗The Royal Commission presented its 792-page report examining the attack, public agencies, and measures intended to improve prevention and inclusion.
Source: Royal Commission of Inquiry ↗New Zealand's Chief Coroner opened an inquiry into each of the 51 deaths after the criminal case and Royal Commission process.
Source: Coroners Court of New Zealand ↗The first-phase inquest examined the attacks, emergency response, apprehension, medical care, and circumstances of the 51 deaths.
Source: Coroners Court of New Zealand ↗0 videos
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