
On Friday evening, after the horror unfolded in Christchurch, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood resolute behind a lectern, and looked into the ring of cameras trained on her. She calmly, firmly delivered the facts. Dozens had been killed and injured in a targeted massacre on two mosques near the city centre. Three suspects were in custody, including an Australian.
“These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand, and in fact have no place in the world,” she said.
Prime Minister Ardern had no reservations in calling it what it was: a terrorist attack.
Less than 24 hours later, the toll by then at 49, she was on the ground in Christchurch, wrapping her arms around mourners. Wearing a black headscarf as a sign of respect, she spoke to the hundreds of members of the local Muslim community at Canterbury Refugee Centre and Hagley College.
According to Sarah Ahmed, a local who was present at the college on Saturday morning, the Labour leader stayed for close to an hour.
Respect for Jacinda Ardern who pays homage to muslim community in traditional attire to show solidarity with the muslims in New Zealand.@jacindaardern #jacindaardern #Christchurch #NewZealandTerroristAttack #NewZealandShooting #ChristchurchAttack # pic.twitter.com/0AhKK2DM8u
— Yassir Hasnat (@YassirHasnat) March 16, 2019