A gunman wielding an automatic rifle opened fire on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, approximately ten minutes after approximately 300 people began afternoon prayers. The https://twitter.com/WashTimes/status/1106374860085841920!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); is reporting that 30 people have been killed or injured, while eyewitnesses report "there was blood everywhere," according to Stuff.co.nz and Radio NZ. Another eyewitness who declined to give his name said there were "bodies all over me," adding that the gunman emptied at least two magazines into the crowd. The shooter was described as "white skinned, blonde, quite short and wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest." according to witness Ahmad Al-Mahmoud, 37, who broke a window in a door to escape from the mosque. Approximately 20 armed police are clearing buildings nearby, while all schools in the area have been placed into lockdown. No students will be released until the police "have advised us that the lockdown is over and it is safe to do so." An armed police officer stands outside the Christchurch Mosque on Deans Ave following the shooting. (photo: George Heard/Stuff) In response to a serious ongoing incident we're locking down number of central city buildings, including the Civic Offices and Central Library. https://t.co/tph8HFddm3 — ChCh City Council (@ChristchurchCC) https://twitter.com/ChristchurchCC/status/1106371947112218624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); The Christchurch hospital emergency ward has been cleared out and hospital staff are expecting 40 - 50 injured people. Meanwhile, according to Stuff, there are reports of more shots being fired at Christchurch hospital. Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV — Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) https://twitter.com/Isam84/status/1106362833288069120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Of note, gun ownership in New Zealand is categorized as "restrictive" - as civilians are not allowed to possess handguns, military-style semi-automatic weapons or fully automatic weapons without a permit and a relevant firearm license endorsement. Developing...