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A far-right Australian senator has sparked outrage after saying the New Zealand mosque shootings “highlight growing fears” over an “increasing Muslim presence”.

Forty-nine people have been killed, with dozens wounded, after mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch. One of the attacks was live streamed on Facebook.

Immediately after the massacre on Friday, Fraser Anning, who has represented Queensland in the Australian Senate since 2017, said in a series of tweets: “Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?

“The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program that allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.

New Zealand: Christchurch shootings - In pictures 28 show all New Zealand: Christchurch shootings - In pictures 1/28 An armed police officer watches as a man is taken by ambulance staff from a mosque in central Christchurch AP 2/28 An image taken from the alleged shooter's video AP 3/28 An emotional man wearing a traditional Maori bone carving necklace speaks on a mobile phone near one of the mosques AP Photo/Mark Baker 4/28 A forensic official works at the Masjid al Noor mosque after a shooting incident in Christchurch AFP/Getty Images 5/28 An image grab from TV New Zealand of armed New Zealand special forces arriving outside the mosque following a shooting in Christchurch AFP/Getty Images 6/28 Armed police officers outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 7/28 Grieving members of the public sit on a curb following a shooting resulting in multiple fatalies and injuries at the Masjid Al Noor in Deans Avenue in Christchurch, New Zealand EPA 8/28 Ambulance staff take a man from outside one of the mosques in central Christchurch AP 9/28 Police are seen in front of Christchurch Hospital during a lockdown Getty Images 10/28 A man rests on the ground as he speaks on his mobile phone across the road from one of the mosques AP 11/28 Armed police patrol outside one of the mosques AP 12/28 A man makes a phone call next to car with shattered windows near one of the mosques AFP/Getty Images 13/28 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images 14/28 An injured person is put into an ambulance following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 15/28 Police keep watch at a park across the road from one of the mosques in central Christchurch, New Zealand AP 16/28 Armed police push back members of the public following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 17/28 An armed police officer following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 18/28 Police stand outside the Linwood Islamic Centre AP 19/28 A police officer is seen running after the initial reports that several shots had been fired Reuters 20/28 Reuters 21/28 Ambulances race towards one of the mosques AFP/Getty Images 22/28 Police cordon off Strickland Street where a car bomb was found Getty Images 23/28 Police Commissioner Mike Bush speaks to media during a press conference at Royal Society Te Aparangi in Wellington Getty Images 24/28 Police block the road near the Linwood Islamic Centre AP 25/28 Ambulances and police outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque EPA 26/28 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaking at Kirribilli House in Sydney, Australia Getty Images 27/28 A police officer talks on her phone at a roadblock near the Linwood Islamic Centre AP 28/28 Armed police maintain a presence outside the Masijd Ayesha Mosque in Manurewa, Auckland, as part of the security response Getty Images 1/28 An armed police officer watches as a man is taken by ambulance staff from a mosque in central Christchurch AP 2/28 An image taken from the alleged shooter's video AP 3/28 An emotional man wearing a traditional Maori bone carving necklace speaks on a mobile phone near one of the mosques AP Photo/Mark Baker 4/28 A forensic official works at the Masjid al Noor mosque after a shooting incident in Christchurch AFP/Getty Images 5/28 An image grab from TV New Zealand of armed New Zealand special forces arriving outside the mosque following a shooting in Christchurch AFP/Getty Images 6/28 Armed police officers outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 7/28 Grieving members of the public sit on a curb following a shooting resulting in multiple fatalies and injuries at the Masjid Al Noor in Deans Avenue in Christchurch, New Zealand EPA 8/28 Ambulance staff take a man from outside one of the mosques in central Christchurch AP 9/28 Police are seen in front of Christchurch Hospital during a lockdown Getty Images 10/28 A man rests on the ground as he speaks on his mobile phone across the road from one of the mosques AP 11/28 Armed police patrol outside one of the mosques AP 12/28 A man makes a phone call next to car with shattered windows near one of the mosques AFP/Getty Images 13/28 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images 14/28 An injured person is put into an ambulance following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 15/28 Police keep watch at a park across the road from one of the mosques in central Christchurch, New Zealand AP 16/28 Armed police push back members of the public following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 17/28 An armed police officer following a shooting at the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch Reuters 18/28 Police stand outside the Linwood Islamic Centre AP 19/28 A police officer is seen running after the initial reports that several shots had been fired Reuters 20/28 Reuters 21/28 Ambulances race towards one of the mosques AFP/Getty Images 22/28 Police cordon off Strickland Street where a car bomb was found Getty Images 23/28 Police Commissioner Mike Bush speaks to media during a press conference at Royal Society Te Aparangi in Wellington Getty Images 24/28 Police block the road near the Linwood Islamic Centre AP 25/28 Ambulances and police outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque EPA 26/28 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaking at Kirribilli House in Sydney, Australia Getty Images 27/28 A police officer talks on her phone at a roadblock near the Linwood Islamic Centre AP 28/28 Armed police maintain a presence outside the Masijd Ayesha Mosque in Manurewa, Auckland, as part of the security response Getty Images

“Today’s shootings in Christchurch highlight the growing fears within our community both in Australia and New Zealand over the increasing Muslim presence.”

Mr Anning, who has previously called for a “final solution” to immigration – language echoing that of Nazi Germany – added “today is not an excuse to forget the countless lives lost to Islamic terrorist attacks”.

Most of the tweets have since been deleted, but appeared in a separate statement in which Mr Anning condemned the shootings.

His comments on Twitter prompted thousands of outraged responses. Tom Coates said: “You mean on a day when a white nationalist kills Muslims the Muslims are to blame? You should lose your job for this statement. It’s appalling.”

Another user, named Maddy, said: “In the cesspit that is the far right, you reach new depths.

“I try to have empathy for everyone, but you've convinced me that you are entirely undeserving of love.”

Mark Reed added: “I’m really going to enjoy watching the electorate throw you in the bin when the time comes.”