Messages of support and solidarity delivered in New Zealand, Australia, Britain, America and Canada

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Mosques in New Zealand and around the world have been inundated with floral tributes and messages of support after a massacre in Christchurch in which 49 Muslims were killed.

The strongest response from the public was in New Zealand, which is reeling in the wake of the worst peacetime mass killing in the nation’s history.

Unable to reach the mosques that were targeted by the shooter because of a cordon, people left piles of flowers and cards as close as they were allowed to go.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest People place flowers at a memorial as a tribute to victims of the mosque attacks, near a police line outside Masjid Al Noor in Christchurch Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Flowers were laid outside a mosque in Wellington where members of the public also drew messages of support on the footpath in chalk.

💫 lucy 'leon's wife' morris 🔜 #notGDC 💫 (@lucyamorris) Just dropped off some flowers at Kilbirnie Mosque. There is so, so much love here right now - the flowers, hugs and messages of support keep coming in droves. Aroha nui, New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/YWrcRw75lH

There were similar scenes outside mosques in Auckland, the nation’s biggest city.

RNZ (@radionz) Floral tributes at the gate of the Al Masjid al Jamie mosque in Ponsonby, Auckland have been arriving since yesterday.



One man laying flowers this morning, Richard, says it was a way of saying 'we are thinking of you and we are one'. pic.twitter.com/hWP2QHqafn

The outpouring of support for the Muslim community was so large that outside some mosques there was nowhere for well-wishers to park. Some messages read: “We love you”, “We are one” and “Forever changed”.

Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) New Zealanders around the country have shown up at mosques en masse to show their support. Impossible at some places to get a park apparently.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Flowers and signs are seen at a memorial as tributes to victims of the mosque attacks near Linwood mosque in Christchurch Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters

In Australia, the response to the massacre was similarly heartfelt, with tributes pouring into mosques across the country.

Dr Jennifer S. Hunt (@Dr_JenHunt) Joined others in leaving flowers and messages of support at the local mosque in Canberra, Australia. #NZTerrorAttack #christchurchmosqueshootings #masjidalnoor pic.twitter.com/HlSPkp14JP

ABC Brisbane (@abcbrisbane) Makeshift memorials are also popping up at mosques here in Australia.



Here people have laid flowers outside the Lutwyche Mosque ♥



📸: Donna Field pic.twitter.com/wcciQ4X6gm

Sarah McPhee (@_SarahMcPhee) Bouquets of flowers, some accompanied with touching messages, adorn the fence of Lakemba Mosque in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/OdQYIR5y0g

Others offered support of a different kind.

Philip Dalidakis MP (@philipdalidakis) An open offer to any Muslim man, woman or child. If you are fearful about walking through the gates of your mosque, let me know and I’ll happily walk with you. Because your ability to practice your faith is as important as it is for me to practice mine.

The outpouring of support continued in America where people also left candles outside mosques.

John Hopperstad (@JohnHopperstad) More flowers and candles left outside Idris Mosque in Seattle in response to mass shooting at New Zealand mosque. Tomorrow Idris is holding a previously scheduled “Cup of Tea Get to know your Muslim Neighbor” event at 4:00. pic.twitter.com/cZKPBe3lef

Wes Regan (@411Regan) It was heartening to see the support for Vancouver’s Muslim community today walking by Al-Masjid Al-Jamia Mosque. The flowers have been piling up today in response to #NZTerrorAttack Vancouverites stand with our Muslim friends, family, co-workers and neighbours ❤️ pic.twitter.com/z283DAA6db

Muslim places of worship in Canada also saw tributes.

Jordan Armstrong (@jarmstrongbc) Flowers and an overflow crowd at Vancouver's oldest mosque @GlobalBC pic.twitter.com/1Lxe4v9PDS

In Britain, solidarity was also on show.

Ibrahim Rahman (@ihrahman) As we opened the #Cambridge Central Mosque doors today, a young man from #NewZealand came by to express how upset he was by the horrific attack in #Christchurch. He broke down in tears, gave us flowers and a beautiful note of support. We will always stand in solidarity. ♥ pic.twitter.com/eHg7jnjWJU

Mohammed Shafiq (@mshafiquk) This lady walked into a Mosque in #Rotherham to give flowers to Muslims after the terrorist attack in New Zealand. One love and one humanity #newzealandterroristattack pic.twitter.com/f7cxj2kpth

BBC Radio Manchester (@BBCRadioManc) Outside a mosque in Manchester today... pic.twitter.com/m3CeaBTgEg

• Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day. In New Zealand, the crisis support service Lifeline can be reached on 0800 543 354. In Australia, Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Irish Republic, contact Samaritans on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.