TERRORIST Brenton Tarrant yelled “I’m a soldier” at cops after his arrest, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.

Remorseless mass murderer Tarrant, 28, also claimed his horrific mosque attacks were a “necessity”.

Police arrest Brenton Tarrant after the shooting

Authorities believe Australian extremist Brenton Tarrant will plead not guilty at his murder trial so he can spout his hateful ideology in court Credit: AFP or licensors

Authorities believe the Australian extremist will plead not guilty at his murder trial so he can spout his hateful ideology.

The handcuffed former fitness trainer smirked at his first court appearance yesterday, and also appeared to give a “white power” salute. A New Zealand police source said cops were left stunned by his sickening attitude after his arrest in Christchurch on Friday.

They said: “Tarrant kept saying he was ‘a soldier’. He was telling officers he was innocent and saying he was just a soldier in a war. He also said the attacks were a tactical necessity.”

Tarrant, who visited Pakistan last year, sent a 74-page “manifesto” outlining his twisted beliefs to New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern 10 minutes before the attacks.

MEMBER OF PUBLIC THREATENED TO 'KNIFE' TARRANT

Tarrant’s gun was daubed with the names of notorious right-wingers. After his arrest he made repeated references to Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed 77 and injured 319 in 2011.

The source claimed far-right maniac Breivik appeared to be Tarrant’s “hero”, adding: “He said he was innocent like him.”

His teacher mum Sharon and sister Lauren were last night being quizzed by cops at a secure location in Brisbane. His dad Rodney died at 49 from an asbestos-related illness in Grafton, New South Wales.

A source in Grafton told us: “Brenton left Oz in 2010 but he returned at least twice a year. Investigators want to know everything he did when he was back.”

A member of the public threatened to “knife” Tarrant yesterday but was stopped from entering the court building by cops.

Tarrant, of Dunedin, was remanded in custody without plea at Christchurch District Court and will appear again on April 5.

Daniel Burrough, 18, arrested after the attacks, was also charged with “exciting hostility or ill-will”.

Suspected Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant appears in court charged with murder

Witnesses recounted the horrific shooting and how one man bravely tried to stop the gunman Credit: AP:Associated Press

The terrifying still from the start of the live-streamed mosque attack that left 49 dead and many more injured

Victim of the terror attack is rushed to hospital

Three-year-old Mucad Ibrahim is missing after the Christchurch shooting.

Many people laid floral tributes outside the mosque on Deans Avenue in Christchurch Credit: Getty Images - Getty

​A New Zealand biker gang perform​s the Haka to honour the victims of the of the mass shootings in Christchurch