
A tragic three-year-old 'died in his father's arms' during the New Zealand mosque terror attack with his brother only surviving the horror by playing dead, a friend has revealed - as the names of the first victims begin to emerge.

Mucad Ibrahim was attending Friday prayers with his father and older brother Abdi Ibrahim when a gunman stormed the al Noor mosque in Christchurch and opened fire on the worshippers.

He is believed to be among 49 confirmed dead in the attack, as tributes are paid to eight others thought dead in the tragic shooting - with more still unaccounted for.

It's believed that at the time of the horrific attack, Mucad ran from the gunman while his father and brother played dead.

His family had been desperately searching for him in the wake of the shooting, but have now paid tribute to the youngster on Facebook.

'Verily we belong to God and to Him we shall return,' Mr Ibrahim said, adding: 'Will miss you dearly brother'.

On Saturday morning, a friend confirmed that little Mucad had died the previous evening in his father's arms.

'Mucaad Ibrahim sadly passed away in his fathers arms, last night, and was taken away by staff,' he said.

'RIP my little friend, you will be sorely missed by all. Such a beacon of light,' he added.

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Mucad Ibrahim (pictured left) was attending Friday prayers with his father and older brother Abdi Ibrahim (pictured right) when a gunman stormed the al Noor mosque

The family of three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim (pictured) who was last seen at the Deans Avenue mosque with his father and brother Abdi have paid tribute to the youngster on Facebook

Mucad (pictured) reportedly ran from the attacker while his father and brother played dead

Since Mr Ibrahim confirmed the tragic passing of Mucad, well-wishers have been paying tribute to the little boy.

'My heart aches for you and your family. Nothing I can say can help, but my sincerest condolences,' one person wrote.

'So sad to hear about your loss, may his soul rest in peace, may Allah give patience to your family,' another added.

A third wrote: 'Sorry [you] lost your brother abdi . Such a sad time . Stay strong and love to you and your family'.

The youngster is thought to be among 49 killed in the massacre at 1.40pm local time on Friday, with the families of others thought dead now also paying tribute.

Fifteen of his victims have been identified by shattered family members, including Palestinian surgeon Dr Amjad Hamid, 57, who had moved to New Zealand with his wife for a better life, and Kuwait futsal goalkeeper Atta Elayyan, 33, who had recently become a father.

National-level futsal player Atta Elayyan (right) was reportedly killed on Friday. He is being remembered as an 'inspiration'

Also believed to be among the dead is Husna Ara Parvin (pictured), who was reportedly gunned down as she tried to save her quadriplegic husband from the shooter

Cardiologist Amjad Hamid (pictured) was mowed down after moving to New Zealand 23 years ago because he wanted a better future for himself and his wife

Another believed to be among the dead is Bangladeshi Husna Parvin, who was reportedly gunned down as she tried to save her wheelchair-bound quadriplegic husband from the shooter.

Haji Daoud Nabi, 71, Naeem Rashid and his 21-year-old son Talha are among those now named. With Abdul Hamid, Khaled Haj Musatafa and Ashraf Ali also among those thought to be dead.

And also today, tributes were paid to Husna Ara Parvin and Sayyad Milne, who is just 14-years-old, both thought to have died in the tragic shooting.

Haji Daoud Nabi (pictured), 71, a father-of-five and retired engineer, moved to New Zealand from Afghanistan in 1977 and set up a new life as one of the 'first Muslims in New Zealand'. He is thought to be among the dead in the Christchurch shooting

Naeem Rashid (pictured), from Abbottabad in Pakistan, was hailed a hero after he tried to wrestle the gun from the Christchurch shooter on Friday. But he was badly wounded after sadly died later in hospital

Mr Rashid (centre) worked in Pakistan at a private bank before moving to Christchurch where he worked as a teacher. In a tragic twist, Mr Rashid's 21-year-old son, Talha, also lost his life during the mass shooting

Mr Nabi, a father-of-five and retired engineer, moved to New Zealand from Afghanistan in 1977 and set up a new life as one of the 'first Muslims in New Zealand'.

Two of his sons Omar Nabi, 43, and Yama Nabi, 45, appeared outside Christchurch District Court on Saturday morning where they shared photos of their father.

The pair were told to expect the worst on Friday afternoon after their father hadn't returned from his Friday prayers.

Naeem Rashid, from Abbottabad in Pakistan, was hailed a hero after he tried to wrestle the gun from the Christchurch shooter on Friday.

He was badly wounded after he launched himself at the shooter in a bid to protect fellow worshippers.

He was rushed to hospital following the attack, but later died.

Two of Mr Nabi's sons Omar Nabi, 43, and Yama Nabi, 45, appeared outside Christchurch District Court on Saturday morning where they shared photos of their father

Omar (pictured) said his father was one of the first Muslims in New Zealand, opening the Tuam Street mosque in Christchurch, after discovering the country was a 'slice of paradise'

A Facebook appeal has been issued for missing man Lilik Abdul Hamid (pictured), who is thought to have died in the mosque

Mr Rashid worked in Pakistan at a private bank before moving to Christchurch where he worked as a teacher.

In a tragic twist, Mr Rashid's 21-year-old son, Talha, also lost his life during the mass shooting.

Dr Khursheed confirmed to ARY News that his brother Mr Rashid and nephew Talha had been killed in the terrifying attack.

A Facebook appeal was issued for missing man Lilik Abdul Hamid but it has since been confirmed he did not survive.

'A friend of one struggle... has passed away in New Zealand... the victim of NZ animal terrorist,' a relative wrote on Facebook.

'All Muslims are grieving and pray for you.'

Born in Indonesia, Mr Abdul Hamid was a practicing Muslim who lived in Christchurch.

Cashmere High School student Sayyad Milne (pictured), 14, who was at Friday prayers when the shooting started, is believed to be dead. Although it's not been officially confirmed, his father has spoken of his loss

Cashmere High School student Sayyad Milne, 14, who was at Friday prayers when the shooting started, is believed to be dead.

Although it's not been officially confirmed, his father has spoken of his loss.

'I've lost my little boy, he's just turned 14,' his devastated father John Milne told NZME.

'I haven't heard officially yet that he's actually passed but I know he has because he was seen.

'[I'm] keeping it together and tears are helping. People are helping. Just by being here, it is helping,' he added.

Ashraf Ali, a respected imam at the Masjid Al Noor mosque who was originally from Fiji, is also believed to be among the dead.

Ashraf Ali (pictured) a respected imam at the Masjid Al Noor mosque who was originally from Fiji, is also thought to be among the dead

Abdul Qayyum (pictured) a close friend of Ashraf Ali, who is confirmed dead, said he will always remember his 'quiet' friend's laugh

Khaled Haj Musatafa was confirmed dead by the group Syrian Solidarity New Zealand. He was a refugee from the war in Syria and moved with his family in 2018 to New Zealand, the group said

'We went to school together,' his friend Abdul Qayyum told Daily Mail Australia, before weeping.

They were meant to go to a gathering in their home country in a few weeks, but it won't be happening now.

Mr Qayyum said he will always remember his 'quiet' friend's laugh.

'There was a game we used to play called 'Last Card' .

'Every time I saw him I called him last card and when he saw me he called me last card,' he chuckled.

Another believed to be among the dead is Husna Ara Parvin, who was reportedly gunned down as she tried to save her quadriplegic husband from the shooter, according to The Bangla Tribune.

With Khaled Haj Musatafa also confirmed dead by the group Syrian Solidarity New Zealand. He was a refugee from the war in Syria and moved with his family in 2018 to New Zealand, the group said.

Also believed to be among the dead is Husna Ara Parvin (pictured), who was reportedly gunned down as she tried to save her quadriplegic husband from the shooter

Many are still missing following the tragic shooting, with a spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that five Pakistani citizens are unaccounted for.

The Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ) confirmed 34-year-old Syed Jahandad Ali was also missing.

A work colleague reportedly saw Mr Ali heading to the mosque just after 1pm on Friday.

Other missing victims are understood to be Vora Ramiz, 28, and 36-year-old Hussain Al Umari.

Al Umari's family have registered him as missing after he was not among the injured rushed to Christchurch Hospital on Friday afternoon.

'We are just praying and trying to be patient,' Al Umari's sister Aya said. 'I feel for those who already know the fate of their loved ones. We have to be strong and stay together.'

The Al Umari family moved to New Zealand from the United Arab Emirates 22 years ago.

A spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that five Pakistani citizens are missing (pictured missing person Syed Jahandad Ali)

The Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ) confirmed 34-year-old Syed Jahandad Ali was also missing after Friday's mosque attack

Indian politician Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed on Twitter Farhaj Ahsan, whose parents live in Hyderabad, was also reported missing.

Mr Owaisi has also requested support of authorities in helping a Hyderabad resident travel to New Zealand to see his brother who was reportedly shot in the chest.

'A video from Christchurch shows one Ahmed Jehangir who was shot. His brother Iqbal Jehangir is a resident of Hyderabad and would like to go to NZ for Ahmed's family,' Mr Owaisi tweeted.

At least one Jordanian was killed in the attacks and two are critical among the eight injured, Jordan's Foreign Ministry announced, according to Arab News.

Khaled Haj Musatafa was reportedly confirmed dead while Jordanian barber Wasseim Alsati and his daughter were critically injured.

Mr Alsati, who moved to New Zealand for a better life, is recovering in hospital where he shared a video to social media.

Abdulrahman Hashi, 60, a preacher at Dar Al Hijrah Mosque in Minneapolis, told The Washington Post that his four-year-old nephew was killed in the attack.

Indian politician Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed Farhaj Ahsan was also reported missing on Twitter

At least one Jordanian was killed in the attacks and two are critical among the eight injured, Jordan's Foreign Ministry announced

Mr Hashi said his brother-in-law Adan Ibrahin Dirie was in hospital after suffering a gunshot wound.

He had been praying with his five children who all managed to escape except the youngest child who was killed.

Others still missing include Kamel Darwish and former Muslim Association of Canterbury secretary Abdelfattah Qasem.

Mr Qasem is currently listed as missing and initial reports indicated he was spotted gravely injured in the mosque.

A woman was pictured outside a community center near Masjid Al Noor in Christchurch said her husband has been missing since Friday's mosque attack.

A woman (pictured) was seen distressed outside a community center near Masjid Al Noor in Christchurch, and said her husband has been missing since Friday's mosque attack

The woman was pictured holding up pictures of her missing husband on her mobile phone. He's not been seen since the attack

Additionally, a toddler and a teenager boy are among the victims in need of urgent hospital treatment following the New Zealand mosque massacre, Christchurch Hospital's head of surgery Greg Robertson confirmed.

The two-year-old boy and 13-year-old boy were rushed to hospital following the mosque terrorist attack. Both are now in a stable condition.

A four-year-old girl has also been left in critical condition and has been transferred from Christchurch hospital to the Starship Hospital, a children's hospital in Auckland.

Mr Robertson confirmed medical staff are continuing to provide care for 39 injured patients.

Christchurch Hospital's head of surgery Greg Robertson (pictured) confirmed a four-year-old girl is in critical condition following the shooting

Out of the 48 patients admitted to hospital, seven individuals have now been discharged.

'The 36 in hospital also include two children that remain within our care. Both are boys, one is aged two, and the other is aged 13,' Mr Robertson told reporters.

'Both are in a stable condition. As you would expect, the wounds from gunshots are often quite significant,' he added.

The surgeon also confirmed that four patients had passed away while they were being transported to the hospital.

He also said that while the victims ranged in age from 'very young to quite elderly' in the main the majority of patients were males in the age range of thirties to forties.

'Of the 36 patients that remain in hospital, 11 of them are in the intensive care unit, including one female aged in her mid-20s.

'All of those in ICU are what we would consider critically ill,' the surgeon said.

While some patients remain in a stable condition, the surgeon confirmed that others are not.

He added that 12 operating theatres worked throughout the night.

Many victims will need ongoing care.

'As you appreciate, there is usually not just one system involved, and we are using all of our surgical services in their different specialties to deliver care for the patients as they need it,' he added.