15 Mar 2024

Survivors five years on from mosque attacks

From Morning Report, 7:10 am on 15 March 2024

Today marks five years since the devastating Christchurch mosque shootings, and Canterbury's Muslim community will gather for its largest ever commemoration.

51 worshippers were killed after a gunman opened fire at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre on March the 15th, 2019.

This year's anniversary falls on Jumu'ah - the mandatory Islamic Friday prayer.

It was that occasion five years ago which the terrorist targeted.

It also falls in the holy month of Ramadan.

For those left behind, the memory is hard to erase but some say they have overcome survivor's guilt to live a more meaningful life.        

First Up producer Mahvash Ikram went to meet three men who were at Al Noor mosque at the time of the attacks.