Al-Noor mosque reopens to worshipers
After the tragic Christchurch attacks, worshipers have returned to the Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch for the first time.
Since the mass shooting at the holy place in which dozens of people were killed, the building was closed so that police could investigate the attack but on Saturday small groups were allowed to return. While armed police patrolled the site, at around midday local time (23:00 GMT Friday), small groups of 15 people were allowed back onto the grounds at a time, just to get some normality.
Fifty people were killed in shootings at two mosques on 15 March. As the Al Noor mosque reopened, some 3,000 people walked through Christchurch on Saturday for a 'march for love' intended to honor the victims.
Many walked in silence and some carried placards calling for peace and opposing racism.
The 28-year-old self-proclaimed white supremacist, Australian Brenton Tarrant, has been charged with one murder in connection with the attacks and is expected to soon face further charges.
The mosque had been repaired, with bullet holes filled in and walls freshly painted - though the lack of rugs on the floor served as a reminder of what had happened. With the crime scene investigation completed, the Al-Noor mosque, where the majority of the victims were killed, was handed back to the city's Muslim community.
Worshipers knelt to pray on a grey padded carpet underlay taped to the floor. Police informed that the nearby Linwood mosque, which was the second to be attacked, had also reopened.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday announced a ban on all types of semi-automatic weapons following the Christchurch attacks. She said she expected new legislation to be in place by 11 April, saying: "Our history changed forever. Now, our laws will too."
An amnesty has been imposed so the owners of affected weapons can hand them in, and a buy-back scheme will follow. The buy-back could cost up to NZ$200m ($138m; £104m).
Ms Ardern has also announced that a National Memorial Service for victims is being planned for next week.
