President Erdogan has played footage of the New Zealand mosque massacre at election rallies that are broadcast live on television.

The Turkish leader, whose AK Party is battling to keep control of the country’s big cities in local elections on March 31, showed the attacker’s video on big screens during rallies in Istanbul and the nearby city of Tekirdag on Sunday.

They included moments when Brenton Tarrant, 28, fired on worshippers at the al-Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch. At least 50 people were killed in the attack and three Turks were among the wounded.

“We hear about attacks targeting our citizens and their foundations, mosques and businesses in Europe on a daily basis,” Mr Erdogan told supporters. “They target Turkey because they see us