N.L. mourns 49 killed in New Zealand mosque shooting - Action News
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N.L. mourns 49 killed in New Zealand mosque shooting

Worshippers in St. John's honoured the dead Friday afternoon, while neighbours dropped off flowers and messages of support at the neighbourhood mosque providing a small ray of hope for Muslim Canadians as they mourn.

'Many of us are thinking, it could have been my mosque,' prayer leader says

Worshippers at the Masjid-an-Noor mosque in St. John's grieved their dead "brothers and sisters" Friday. A member of the local Muslim association condemned the attacks while thanking the wider public for its widespread support. (CBC)

The Muslim community and its allies in St John's arein mourning after 49 people were killed in a terror attack that targetedhouses of worship in Christchurch,New Zealand Friday.

Haseen Khan, treasurer of the Muslim Assoc. of Newfoundland and Labrador, described the event in detail during Friday's Jum'aaprayer service insidethe island's only mosque, Masjid-an-Noor.

Khan, who led the prayers, referencedpolice and media reports from Christchurchto piece together what happened to the community's "brothers and sisters" in Oceania.

"A gunman dressed in black, wearing a helmet, carrying a machine gun, entered from the back door and began firing," Khan said,condemning the attack as an "inhuman, deliberate and evil" act.

"It was a well-planned terrorist attack against harmless and peaceful worshippers."

Muslim worshippers listened to a special prayer service in honour of the 49 victims killed in New Zealand. (CBC)

Those at the mosque Friday meditated on the mass shootingas though it happened here at home rather than half a world away, touching their heads to the floor or kneeling in pensive silence as Khan continued.

"Hundreds of bullet shells were on the mosque floor, along with dead and injured worshippers, including women and children, lying in a pool of blood in each and every corner of the mosque," he said.

"Many of us are thinking, it could have been my mosque."

Haseen Khan discovered flowers and messages of support left at the door to the mosque when he arrived Friday morning to prepare for prayers. (CBC)

RCMP officers, as well as CBC News, were welcomed intoMasjid-an-Noor during the service.Security was heightened at anumber of Islamic sites across Canada following the attacks.

At Confederation Building, flags flew at half-mast to honour the victims.

"This kind of violence is unacceptable. Out of respect, and as a symbol of sorrow, the flags will remain lowered until sunrise," said a statement from the provincial executive council.

Khan said the mosque has"received [an] outpouring of support" both from political leaders and the wider community.

When he arrived this morning to prepare for the service, he said, he was welcomed by flowers and notes of support laid at the front door.

"Thereare people who stand with us," he said, adding that there's a small gleam of hope to be found in the darkness of thetragedy.

"That's what we try to instill in our children. That there are good people. There are civilized people, who always stand with us,feet to feet and shoulder to shoulder, during any crisis," he said.

"These are the messages of support which we use to comfort ourselves and our children ... This is what we take pride in.

"This is why we are proud to call ourselves Canadians."

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

With files from Carolyn Stokes