Family of slain boy visits Christchurch mosque as it reopens
The family of a slain 3-year-old boy and a Jordanian prince are among those visiting a New Zealand mosque as it reopens for the first time since a terrorist killed 42 people there.
Hundreds of people stopped at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch on Saturday to lay flowers or pray after police removed a cordon and those running the mosque decided to reopen even though they haven't yet had time to replace the carpet.
Inside the mosque, there were few signs of the carnage from eight days earlier. Crews had replaced windows that worshippers smashed in a desperate attempt to escape when the attacker mowed them down during Friday prayers. Bullet holes were plastered over and painted.
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite, left, of the Kingdom of Jordan greets worshippers outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
The gunman killed a total of 50 people at two mosques.
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite of the Kingdom of Jordan greets worshippers outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite of the Kingdom of Jordan and his entourage are escorted to the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite, right, of the Kingdom of Jordan embraces a worshipper outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite, second right, of the Kingdom of Jordan greets a worshipper outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite, second right, of Jordan, greets a worshipper who had just performed a haka outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal Hashemite of the Kingdom of Jordan walks past floral tribute outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. The mosque reopened today following the March 15 mass shooting. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
Worshippers prepare to enter the Al Noor mosque following last week's mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
Muslim men pray in Hagley Park across the road from the Al Noor mosque following last week's mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. (AP PhotoMark Baker)
A armed policeman patrols the grounds at the Al Noor mosque following last week's mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, March 23, 2019. (AP PhotoMark Baker)