The Bangladesh New Zealand tour was cancelled after a shooting at a Christchurch mosque on Friday.
The side, who were set to play their third and final Test against the Black Caps, were en route to a mosque near Hagley Oval when they were blocked by police after reports of a shooting.
The tour has since been cancelled.
1/5 Police is responding to a very serious and tragic incident involving an active shooter in central Christchurch. One person is in custody, however Police believe there may be other offenders…. This is an evolving incident and we are working to confirm the facts…
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) March 15, 2019
2/5 however we can confirm there have been a number of fatalities. Police is currently at a number of scenes. We understand that there will be many anxious people but I can assure New Zealanders that Police is doing all it can to resolve this incident.
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) March 15, 2019
According to reports, they were barred from leaving the bus at first, but were then advised to run through Hagley Park to the stadium.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
‘We are shocked and appalled, as I’m sure all New Zealanders are,’ NZ Cricket chief executive David White told TVNZ.
‘I have spoken to my counterpart in Bangladesh, and we both agree that it’s inappropriate to play cricket at this time.’
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Arden spoke up about the shocking incident.
‘There is no place in New Zealand for such acts of extreme and unprecedented violence, which it is clear this act was. This is significant and I can tell you now this is and will be one of New Zealand’s darkest days,’ she said in a statement.
‘Certainly, it has occurred at a place where people should have been expressing their religious freedom, where they should have been in a safe environment, and they have not been today.
‘There is no place in New Zealand for such extreme acts of unprecedented violence. The people who were the subject of this attack today, New Zealand is their home, they should be safe here. The person who has perpetuated this violent act against them, they have no place in New Zealand society.’
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The shooter is believed to be a 28-year-old white Australia-born male.
Photo: /AFP/Getty Images
