03:43

People pray before a burial ceremony of a victim of the mosque attacks, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

There are more than 1,000 mourners gathered at Christchurch’s memorial park cemetery for the burial of 26 victims of the mosque attacks this afternoon, among them the youngest victim of the attack, three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim.

Dozens of media agencies, most of which are international, have been allowed to film from the edge of the cemetery.



It is crowded, and the MC is trying to organise a large crowd to endure bodies can be carried safely and close family has an opportunity to say goodbye. There are volunteers in high visibility vests to help keep order. Armed police are guarding entrances to the cemetery, and mourners keep walking in and out. Every few minutes, the sound of prayer indicates a body being carried for burial.

The mass burial of being held to ensure that all can be buried in accordance with Islamic tradition, which dictates that a person be buried as soon as possible after death.

The majority of the bodies were only released back to their families from the coroner yesterday. The seven days it has taken for burial is already far too long; no one is prepared to wait longer.

Today’s funerals are the last in Christchurch relating to the attack. Other victims are being buried in other cities or in their home countries.