Thousands gather for call to prayer and mass funeral in Christchurch [Source: stuff.co.nz]

Thousands of people have gathered for the Muslim call to prayer and two minutes of silence in Christchurch.

This is a week after 50 people were killed and scores of others wounded in an attack on two mosques in the city.

Attendees are at Christchurch’s central Hagley Park – observing a nationwide silence, called for by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern which is broadcast live on national television and radio stations.

[Source: NZ Herald]

Ardern is present at the ceremony less than 500 metres away from the Al Noor mosque, where 42 people were gunned down on Friday.

Remembrance ceremonies and public vigils are set to take place across the Pacific nation today.

Many of those who arrived to pray in Christchurch have travelled from throughout New Zealand, home to about five million people, and elsewhere across the world.

[Source: Zeenat Aman]

Fifty people, of Muslim religion, died in the terrorist attack perpetrated by one accused gunman, and 48 were wounded, some critically, including a 4-year-old girl who is still fighting for her life.

Graves in Waharoa Cemetery have names for first time in 45 years https://t.co/ILGSpmBEy9 pic.twitter.com/R4DekJ10fJ

— Stuff (@NZStuff) March 22, 2019

The funerals of the 50 victims, whose identification was completed yesterday, are expected to continue and a national memorial will take place next week.