The death toll has risen to 49 after the terrorist attack at two mosques in Christchurch today, police have confirmed.

Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch. Credit: AP 2019 Credit: AP 2019 A man reacts as he speaks on a mobile phone outside a mosque in central Christchurch. Credit: AP/Mark Baker Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch. Credit: AP/Mark Baker Ambulance staff take a man from outside a mosque in central Christchurch. Credit: AP /Mark Baker Azam Ali who was in the Linwood Avenue mosque. Credit: RNZ / Conan Young Shoaib Gani who was in the Linwood Avenue mosque. Credit: RNZ / Conan Young Armed police blocked off the road and turned people away. Credit: RNZ / Simon Rogers Police taping off the street, with people reunited at the edge of the cordon. RNZ / Simon Rogers Police blocking off roads in Christchurch. Credit: RNZ / Simon Rogers Police Commissioner Mike Bush giving a media conference about the mosque shootings. Credit: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King People outside the cordon. Credit: RNZ / Simon Rogers People being escorted out of the police cordon. Credit: RNZ / Simon Rogers People being escorted out of the police cordon. Credit: RNZ / Simon Rogers People being escorted out of the police cordon. Credit: RNZ / Simon Rogers Credit: RNZ / Conan Young Credit: RNZ / Conan Young Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at a media conference at Parliament. Credit: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Malik Ricks (father), Suki Hickling (mother) Frida Ricks (daughter) and Tahi Ricks who laid flowers and lit candles at the cordon by Linwood mosque this evening. Credit: RNZ / Conan Young A forensic official works at the Masjid al Noor mosque after the shootings. Credit: AFP Residents wait near the scene of the shootings. Credit: AFP

Key points:

There have been two attacks - at the Masjid Al Noor Mosque next to Hagley Park, and at the Linwood Masjid Mosque in the suburb of Linwood.

Forty-nine people have died, police have confirmed. 41 at Deans Ave mosque and seven at the Linwood mosque. One person who had been injured has since died.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder and is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court tomorrow morning.

Three others are in custody, but one of these people is not thought to be connected to shootings. But police warn there could be more offenders.

The PM said those in custody were not on any security watch lists.

Canterbury DHB says 48 patients with gunshot wounds are being treated at Christchurch Hospital.

Police are at a property on Somerville Street in Dunedin, which is linked to the shootings.

PM Jacinda Ardern has described it as a terrorist attack.

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The national security threat level has been increased from low to high for the first time in NZ's history.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said there were two explosive devices attached to a vehicle, one has been deactivated and the other is being worked on.

Mr Bush said weapons have been found near the mosques were the shooting occurred.

An eyewitness described seeing a man wearing a helmet and glasses and a military style jacket opening fire inside one of the mosques with an automatic weapon.

Multiple roads in the city including Blenheim Rd, Moorhouse Ave and Brougham St were closed.

Police have told mosques nationwide to shut their doors until further notice.

The third cricket Test between Bangladesh and NZ - due to start in Christchurch tomorrow - has been cancelled.

Follow live updates of the ongoing incident here: