THE New Zealand mosque shooter had a gun licence and was carrying FIVE "modified" firearms during the massacre which left 49 dead.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared that "laws will change" following the country's worst ever terror attack that was broadcast live on Facebook.

33 Mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant flashed a white power symbol as he appeared in court Credit: Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald

33 The shooter obtained a gun licence before carrying out the terror attack

33 At least one gunman opened fire at two mosques in New Zealand - and live-streamed the slaughter on Facebook

33 New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern dressed in black and covered her head as she visited a refugee centre after the attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

What we know so far:

Brenton Tarrant opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, at 1.40pm local time on Friday

49 people have been killed - 41 at Masjid Al Noor Mosque, 7 at Linwood Masjid Mosque and 1 died at hospital

48 people were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds and 20 are in critical condition

Aussie-born Tarrant published a chilling 74-page manifesto before the rampage

Cops arrested three men and a woman - initial reports of one wearing a suicide vest were incorrect

A smirking Tarrant appeared charged with one murder. Authorities said more charges will follow

Another man, 18, was charged with intent to excite hostility towards an ethic group

Aussie-born Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, flashed a white power symbol as he appeared in Christchurch District Court today charged with murder.

He livestreamed himself as he stormed the Al Noor Mosque during Friday prayers, leaving at least 41 dead.

Cops believe he then drove for seven minutes to a mosque in Linwood Avenue where he shot dead a further eight victims.

He was arrested and dragged from his car, which was rigged with two bombs, 36 minutes after police were first called.

The white supremacist shooter had “intended to continue with his attack” when he was tackled by brave cops, Ms Ardern confirmed.

“The offender was mobile. There were two other firearms in the vehicle the offender was in and it absolutely was his intention to continue with his attack,” she said.

New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush also confirmed that the suspect was "not willing to be arrested".

ARMED TO THE TEETH

The shooter had two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and a lever-action firearm to carry out the sick attack.

Ms Ardern said that he had obtained a gun licence in November 2017, adding: "Our gun laws will change.

"There were attempts to change the law in 2005 and 2012, and after an inquiry in 2017.

"Now is the time for change."

Speaking later on Saturday, Ms Ardern said it "appeared" the guns had been modified.

"One of the issues we are facing is that the guns that were used in this case appear to have been modified," she said.

She confirmed that the evil murderer had a Category A gun licence which enabled him to legally obtain semi-automatic weapons.

When asked by a reporter whether semi-automatic weapons should be banned, she said that it was one issue which should be examined.

WHITE POWER SYMBOL

A smirking Tarrant, who was not on any government watchlists prior to the attack, appeared in a Christchurch court today charged with murder.

Authorities said more charges are expected to be announced.

Handcuffed and barefoot, Tarrant did not speak during the hearing, but he grinned when media photographed him in the dock, flanked by two police officers.

Former personal trainer Tarrant, who is believed to have lived in New Zealand’s South Island for the last three years, flashed a white power symbol with his right hand.

Tarrant is accused of murdering a man, whose name was suppressed by Judge Paul Kellar on grounds of undue hardship to his family.

The accused killer was remanded in custody without plea to the High Court in Christchurch on April 5. No application for bail was made.

Daniel John Burrough, 18, from Christchurch, has also been charged with intent to excite hostility or ill will against any group of persons in New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race or ethnic or national origins.

New Zealand mosque shootings – White supremacist gunmen shoot dead dozens of worshippers and leave many others injured in terror attack at two Christchurch mosques

33 Ammunition used by the depraved killer in New Zealand

33 The shooter had two semi-automatic weapons, two shotguns and a lever-action firearm

33 The twisted maniac had five deadly firearms during the sickening massacre

Police initially took three men and a woman into custody following the shootings which have shocked the world.

Cops later said one of the arrests didn't relate to the shootings. The status of the third person is not yet known.

A bomb robot and explosives experts were today sent to search a “location of interest” in Dunedin – the city where Tarrant lived.

Ms Ardern said: "This individual has travelled around the world with sporadic periods of time spent in New Zealand.

"They were not a resident of Christchurch, in fact they were currently based in Dunedin at the time of this event."

Prime Minister Arden added that the safety of the public remains "our highest priority".

33 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said gun laws will change after the mass shooting on Friday Credit: Getty Images - Getty

New Zealand mosque terrorist had a gun licence and was carrying FIVE deadly weapons, PM reveals as she vows to change the law

How the killer was caught COPS arrested the armed killer after ramming his car in a suburban street.

Brenton Tarrant’s estate was pushed over, with two wheels spinning off the ground.

In dramatic amateur video footage, the police officers are seen pointing their weapons at him.

One aims a rifle through the windscreen — which already has two bullet holes in it — while his partner is by the passenger door covering Tarrant with a pistol.

As the car’s front wheel still spins, Tarrant is dragged from the vehicle on to the pavement.

He is then pushed face down and handcuffed before being hauled to a police patrol car.

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33

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

33 The gunman opened fire at a mosque in New Zealand killing multiple people. Paramedics are seen here taking the wounded to a Christchurch hospita

Earlier, it emerged a hero youngster took on the New Zealand Mosque terrorist - wrestling his gun off him before trying to shoot him, massacre survivors have claimed.

Syed Mazharuddin told how his fearless friend risked his life to tackle the white supremacist shooter who killed seven at the Linwood mosque, just after 41 lives were claimed at another nearby mosque in Christchurch minutes before.

He told the NZ Herald: "The young guy who usually takes care of the mosque ... he saw an opportunity and pounced on (the gunman) and took his gun," said Mazharuddin.

"The hero tried to chase and he couldn't find the trigger in the gun ... he ran behind him but there were people waiting for him in the car and he fled."

FACES OF THE MISSING

A three-year-old boy is one of the youngest people feared dead following the New Zealand mosque massacres.

Desperate families begged for help to find their loved ones following Friday’s sickening terror attack in Christchurch.

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

33 Pakistani citizen Syed Jahandad Ali is believed to be among the missing

33 Farhaj Ahsan was confirmed missing by Indian politician Asaduddin Owaisi

New Zealand candlelit 'Stand Against Hate' vigil held in London to honour those killed in the mosque terror attack

33 There were emotional scenes as people laid floral tributes outside the mosque on Deans Avenue in Christchurch Credit: Getty Images - Getty

33 Well-wishers supported each other following the harrowing attacks Credit: Rashid Umar Abbasi

33 The lights of the Eiffel Tower were switched off in tribute to the victims of the attack Credit: AFP or licensors

SURVIVORS SPEAK OUT

Mazharuddin revealed one of his friends died at the scene, another was left bleeding heavily as he tried to contact emergency services.

"I ran out and then the police came and they didn't let me come back in again so I couldn't save my friend, he was bleeding heavily," he said.

"It took almost half an hour, more than half an hour by the time the ambulance could arrive and I think he must have died."

One woman told of her friend's young daughter being shot through the heart while others described the "blood-curdling screams" of those fleeing in panic.

Small children are said to be among the dead, and bodies have been reported laying on the ground outside.

Ramzan Ali who was inside the Al Noor mosque - the scene of the deadliest shooting - told CNN he saw the man next to him get shot in the chest.

He said: "I was thinking that he must run out of bullets. I waited for that and prayed 'Oh God, please let this man run out of bullets'.

33 Bloodied bandages are seen on the ground outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque Credit: EPA

33 A worshipper sits outside the mosque after the massacre Credit: Sky news

33 Syed Mazharuddin told how his friend fearlessly tackled the gun man during the massacre in Christchurch

Security stepped up at mosques across US after deadly New Zealand terror attack

"When he stopped the first time I went but the guy sitting beside me told me 'no, no'.

"Next thing, the shooter came and shot this guy who told me not to get up.

"I know that guy. He shot him right in the chest."

"The blood was splashing on me, and I was thinking 'oh my God, oh my God, this is going to happen to me now'."

Ali dived through an already broken window and believes he was the last person to get out of the mosque alive.

Another young man, Omar Nabi, told NBC News he had been given the devastating news his 71-year-old dad Daoud Nabi, had been killed after throwing himself in front of another worshipper.

Witness Nour Tavis said he was in the front row of the Al Noor Mosque with his friend when the shooting started.

There were people bleeding to death ... it was terrible A brave survivor speaks out

"Then we heard screaming ... everyone panicked," he said. "There was shooting and shooting and shooting ... people were running and all of a sudden you saw them fall."

He told the New Zealand Herald he saw someone smash a window and jump out. "It was the only way to escape," he said. "I followed."

Tavis then scaled a fence and banged on a neighbouring house desperately hoping someone would answer and take him in to safety.

"We got in there and I could see another man had been shot, I could see blood," he said. "There were people bleeding to death ... it was terrible."

Tavis' told how his friend's wife was tragically killed in the attack.

"When she heard the noise she wanted to go and make sure her husband was safe," he said.

"She got the bullet, her husband got away. She was gone, she was no more."

A victim who was filmed saying "hello brother" to the gunman before the massacre was unleashed has also been praised for his bravery as the shooter stormed inside.

Video shows New Zealand police detaining a suspect after mosque shootings

33 This picture is believed to show a suspect being taken into custody Credit: Reuters

33 The shooter live streamed the carnage on Facebook using a GoPro Credit: AP:Associated Press

33 Police stand outside a mosque in Linwood, Christchurch this morning

Worshipper Nour Travis tells how he jumped from New Zealand mosque window as gunman killed his friends

LIVE-STREAMED SLAUGHTER

Harrowing video showed the gunman driving to a mosque, arming himself and then beginning the slaughter after declaring: "Let's get this party started."

The shooter had released a sick manifesto before the shooting - saying he was taking revenge for the "thousands of European lives lost to terror attacks", adding: "I have read the writings of Dylan Roof and many others, but only really took true inspiration from Knight Justiciar Breivik."

In the live-streamed footage, the man is seen taking automatic weapons from his boot, daubed in bizarre references to historic Muslim wars.

He then enters and shoots down multiple people in the prayer room, as they run in panic.

The man shoots several people from the car park before stalking through the building, picking off people and shooting bodies on the floor.

The sicko drives off boasting about how he "should have stayed longer" and blaring music including "Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

33 Tarrant, pictured in Pakistan in 2018, according to Australian media

33 Here he is pictured as a youngster with his family, ABC news reported

33 Friends in his hometown of Grafton, Australia, say he may have become radicalised while travelling

CRICKET TEAM CAUGHT UP IN CARNAGE

The Bangladesh cricket team among worshippers caught up in the carnage - although all escaped unharmed.

Team manager Khaled Mashud said: "This was a kind of accident that we would never expect nor want in any part of the world.

"Only two of the players had stayed back in the hotel, and rest of the squad had gone there.

"We were very close to the mosque, and we could see from the bus. We must have been about 50 yards from the mosque.

"I would say we were really lucky. Had we arrived even three or four minutes earlier, we probably would have been inside the mosque."

The UK's counter-terrorism chief today said he was stepping up patrols around mosques in the UK and Brit officers were ready to support their counterparts in New Zealand.

Thousands have already been raised for the victims of the terror attacks through a fundraising page set up by the New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups.

33 People take part in a vigil at the New Zealand War Memorial on Hyde Park Corner following the mosque attacks in Christchurch Credit: PA:Press Association

New Zealand candlelit 'Stand Against Hate' vigil held in London to honour those killed in the mosque terror attack

33 The gunman attacked Masjid Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch at 1.40pm on Friday Credit: AP:Associated Press

33 Witnesses inside the mosque reported seeing 15 people being shot, including children Credit: AP:Associated Press

33 Armed cops locked down the area after receiving reports of an active shooter Credit: AP:Associated Press

33 Cops responded to the incident at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on the country's South Island Credit: Google

33 This map shows how the sickening attacks unfolded

Bangladesh cricket team escape from scene after gunman opens fire at Christchurch Mosque

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Prime Minister Theresa May has led the UK condemnation of the Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 49 people.

US President Donald Trump also tweeted a message that read: "My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured.

"The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!"

The Queen said she is "deeply saddened by the appalling events in Christchurch today", adding: "Prince Philip and I send our condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives."

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