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Photos: Lives changed forever by Christchurch shootings

The shootings at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 that killed fifty people and left dozens wounded, shook New Zealand and left the lives of survivors and the families of victims changed irrevocably. The violence prompted the government to tighten gun laws and launch a powerful national inquiry into the country's worst peacetime massacre. Some survivors feel emboldened, others are haunted by memories of the attack. Alongside sorrow and pain, others feel the close call has reinvigorated their lives.

Updated on: Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM IST

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1/16

On a small farm on the outskirts of Christchurch in New Zealand, Omar Nabi (L) dug a small hole and sharpened a knife, preparing to slaughter a sheep as a blessing to his father – a victim of the mass killings at the Al Noor mosque. Hunched between his father’s collection of rusted cars, Nabi softly said a prayer and slit the animal’s neck, facing it towards Mecca. No part of the animal was wasted, he said. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

On a small farm on the outskirts of Christchurch in New Zealand, Omar Nabi (L) dug a small hole and sharpened a knife, preparing to slaughter a sheep as a blessing to his father – a victim of the mass killings at the Al Noor mosque. Hunched between his father’s collection of rusted cars, Nabi softly said a prayer and slit the animal’s neck, facing it towards Mecca. No part of the animal was wasted, he said. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

2/16

Omar Nabi takes a moment to recompose himself. Nabi first slaughtered a sheep when he was 11, each step supervised by his father. He is now 43. “My father was my whole life... I give thanks for my father, he’s done a lot,” he said. His father, Haji Daoud Nabi, had hoped to build a small mosque on the property, a plan his son intends to complete. “This means a lot to me, Dad put a piece of heaven in Christchurch.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Omar Nabi takes a moment to recompose himself. Nabi first slaughtered a sheep when he was 11, each step supervised by his father. He is now 43. “My father was my whole life... I give thanks for my father, he’s done a lot,” he said. His father, Haji Daoud Nabi, had hoped to build a small mosque on the property, a plan his son intends to complete. “This means a lot to me, Dad put a piece of heaven in Christchurch.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

3/16

Armed police officers stand guard outside Al Noor mosque. Several weeks after an attack on Muslim worshippers that killed fifty people and left dozens wounded, the lives of survivors and the families of victims have changed irrevocably. Some survivors feel emboldened, others are haunted by memories of the attack and haven’t been able to return to the mosque. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Armed police officers stand guard outside Al Noor mosque. Several weeks after an attack on Muslim worshippers that killed fifty people and left dozens wounded, the lives of survivors and the families of victims have changed irrevocably. Some survivors feel emboldened, others are haunted by memories of the attack and haven’t been able to return to the mosque. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

4/16

Mohammed Israfil Hossain, a muezzin from Bangladesh, shows an opening in the pulpit where a 3-year-old boy had hidden. The shootings on March 15 shook New Zealand and prompted the government to tighten gun laws and launch a national inquiry into the country’s worst peacetime massacre. An Australian man, a suspected white supremacist, has been charged with 50 murders and 39 attempted murders. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Mohammed Israfil Hossain, a muezzin from Bangladesh, shows an opening in the pulpit where a 3-year-old boy had hidden. The shootings on March 15 shook New Zealand and prompted the government to tighten gun laws and launch a national inquiry into the country’s worst peacetime massacre. An Australian man, a suspected white supremacist, has been charged with 50 murders and 39 attempted murders. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

5/16

Mark Rangi (R) shops for groceries with his son Sam at a supermarket in Christchurch. Rangi, 59, feels his future is in limbo following wounds to both legs. The New Zealander, who lives in Sydney, had never been to Al Noor Mosque before the attack. After visiting relatives in a nearby town, he had attended the mosque before his return flight to Sydney so he could seek spiritual guidance on the direction of his life. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Mark Rangi (R) shops for groceries with his son Sam at a supermarket in Christchurch. Rangi, 59, feels his future is in limbo following wounds to both legs. The New Zealander, who lives in Sydney, had never been to Al Noor Mosque before the attack. After visiting relatives in a nearby town, he had attended the mosque before his return flight to Sydney so he could seek spiritual guidance on the direction of his life. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

6/16

Instead, Rangi ended up running for his life, bleeding from shrapnel wounds in his legs. After surgery, he is able to walk slowly but Rangi is doubtful he can return to work as a baggage handler. “I wouldn’t have a clue (what to do now). I want to be independent,” he said from a youth hostel where he is staying, overlooking piles of flowers placed in a makeshift memorial. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Instead, Rangi ended up running for his life, bleeding from shrapnel wounds in his legs. After surgery, he is able to walk slowly but Rangi is doubtful he can return to work as a baggage handler. “I wouldn’t have a clue (what to do now). I want to be independent,” he said from a youth hostel where he is staying, overlooking piles of flowers placed in a makeshift memorial. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

7/16

In a one-storey house a short drive from Al Noor mosque, Zahra Fathy turned pages in a photo album compiled by her husband Hussein Moustafa, who died in the massacre. As part of the customary four-month and 10 day-mourning period, she wears simple, unadorned clothing and spends most of her time at home. “It’s hard to stay thinking about what happened, so I have to escape this and think about what’s next,” she said. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

In a one-storey house a short drive from Al Noor mosque, Zahra Fathy turned pages in a photo album compiled by her husband Hussein Moustafa, who died in the massacre. As part of the customary four-month and 10 day-mourning period, she wears simple, unadorned clothing and spends most of her time at home. “It’s hard to stay thinking about what happened, so I have to escape this and think about what’s next,” she said. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

8/16

Her husband had spent time at the mosque on most days, organising its library and tending to a vegetable garden. She is now considering visiting her extended family in Alexandria, Egypt, where she and her husband both grew up, for Ramzan. “Being all on your own during Ramzan is tough,” said her son, Mohammed, who flew home from a new job in Saudi Arabia on learning of his father’s death. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Her husband had spent time at the mosque on most days, organising its library and tending to a vegetable garden. She is now considering visiting her extended family in Alexandria, Egypt, where she and her husband both grew up, for Ramzan. “Being all on your own during Ramzan is tough,” said her son, Mohammed, who flew home from a new job in Saudi Arabia on learning of his father’s death. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

9/16

Zahra Fathy, widow of 70-year-old Hussein Moustafa, embraces a neighbour who came to check on how Zahra was coping. Before Ramzan, Zahra and her family plan to mark the graduation of her youngest son, Zeyad, 22, who also returned to Christchurch from a new job, in Canberra. “He was very, very proud of you,” Zahra told her son. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Zahra Fathy, widow of 70-year-old Hussein Moustafa, embraces a neighbour who came to check on how Zahra was coping. Before Ramzan, Zahra and her family plan to mark the graduation of her youngest son, Zeyad, 22, who also returned to Christchurch from a new job, in Canberra. “He was very, very proud of you,” Zahra told her son. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

10/16

This watch was a present from Mohammed Moustafa to his father. At the time of the attacks, Mohammed was overseas and was anxious when he couldn’t get hold of his father. Some friends said his father made it out while others had contradicting reports. In his search for answers, Mohammed sat down to watch the video of the attack only to see a man resembling his father, wearing a similar watch, fall. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

This watch was a present from Mohammed Moustafa to his father. At the time of the attacks, Mohammed was overseas and was anxious when he couldn’t get hold of his father. Some friends said his father made it out while others had contradicting reports. In his search for answers, Mohammed sat down to watch the video of the attack only to see a man resembling his father, wearing a similar watch, fall. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

11/16

Farid Ahmed has worked to bring his community and his country together. Farid, a wheelchair user, survived the shooting but his wife Husna was killed. He spent one recent Sunday going door-to-door to thank his neighbours for their support. When his neighbours heard of his wife’s death, “they came running... they were in tears,” he said. “That was wonderful support and expression of love.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Farid Ahmed has worked to bring his community and his country together. Farid, a wheelchair user, survived the shooting but his wife Husna was killed. He spent one recent Sunday going door-to-door to thank his neighbours for their support. When his neighbours heard of his wife’s death, “they came running... they were in tears,” he said. “That was wonderful support and expression of love.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

12/16

A photograph of Farid Ahmed, his wife Husna, at his house. His message of forgiveness and peace to avoid “a heart that is boiling like a volcano” has made headlines around the world and was broadcast in a heartfelt speech at a national memorial service. “I admire him. I couldn’t do that,” said a neighbour. “We’ve learnt a lot about Islam over the last few days… (it’s) crazy how similar our two faiths are.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

A photograph of Farid Ahmed, his wife Husna, at his house. His message of forgiveness and peace to avoid “a heart that is boiling like a volcano” has made headlines around the world and was broadcast in a heartfelt speech at a national memorial service. “I admire him. I couldn’t do that,” said a neighbour. “We’ve learnt a lot about Islam over the last few days… (it’s) crazy how similar our two faiths are.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

13/16

Amir Daud, from Pakistan, shows an exchange during the day of the shootings with his compatriot Sardar Faisal. Amir and his wife Hina were supposed to be at the mosque with Faisal that day. They said, bullets whizzed through their car as the gunman fired a volley of shots, but they managed to escape unharmed as Amir used his hand to press on the accelerator to get away into cover. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Amir Daud, from Pakistan, shows an exchange during the day of the shootings with his compatriot Sardar Faisal. Amir and his wife Hina were supposed to be at the mosque with Faisal that day. They said, bullets whizzed through their car as the gunman fired a volley of shots, but they managed to escape unharmed as Amir used his hand to press on the accelerator to get away into cover. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

14/16

Sardar Faisal (2nd L), who was minutes late for Friday prayers that day, managed to hide in the Al Noor mosque’s toilet and phoned for help. Although he survived unharmed, Faisal speaks of recurring dreams of the attack like a video game, in which most scenarios ended up with him being dead. He now puts every effort in helping the families of victims by cooking and delivering food and running errands for them. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

Sardar Faisal (2nd L), who was minutes late for Friday prayers that day, managed to hide in the Al Noor mosque’s toilet and phoned for help. Although he survived unharmed, Faisal speaks of recurring dreams of the attack like a video game, in which most scenarios ended up with him being dead. He now puts every effort in helping the families of victims by cooking and delivering food and running errands for them. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

15/16

“It gave me courage,” said Hazem Mohammed, originally from Baghdad. Hazem said he continued to play dead as the gunman fired at him, missing his head by inches and hitting his shoulder. “I cry for two reasons. The first half because I lost friends, they are gone,” he said. “And the other tears… these tears are for joy, because I was reborn again on Friday the 15th of March 2019.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

“It gave me courage,” said Hazem Mohammed, originally from Baghdad. Hazem said he continued to play dead as the gunman fired at him, missing his head by inches and hitting his shoulder. “I cry for two reasons. The first half because I lost friends, they are gone,” he said. “And the other tears… these tears are for joy, because I was reborn again on Friday the 15th of March 2019.” (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

16/16

A Quran verse that reads “Allah is with those who are patient”, is reflected on a clock at Al Noor mosque. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 10, 2019 12:03 PM

A Quran verse that reads “Allah is with those who are patient”, is reflected on a clock at Al Noor mosque. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

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