New Zealand's friends and neighbours have been sharing their shock and sadness over the attack. Here's a selection of the responses.

• Malaysia says two of its citizens were injured. The foreign ministry said it condemns "this senseless act of terror on innocent civilians and hopes that those responsible for this barbaric crime be brought to justice".
• Fiji's PM Frank Bainimarama says "Fijian hearts are breaking for our brothers and sisters in New Zealand". There are unconfirmed reports that one or more Fijians are among the victims.
• Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians "stand with all New Zealanders today during this dark time where hate and violence has stolen their peace and innocence. Kia kaha (stay strong)."

• Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she "strongly condemns" the attack "especially at a place of worship while a Friday prayer was ongoing".
• Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Edogan said the attack was "the latest example of rising racism and Islamophobia".
• UK PM Theresa May condemned the "sickening act of violence" and sent condolences.

Saudi Arabia's embassy in Wellington says one Saudi citizen was among the injured.

His wounds were described as "non-threatening".

Australian Senator Fraser Anning is being widely criticised for a statement he's released on the attack. The independent senator for Queensland says the "real cause of bloodshed" is immigration which "allowed Muslims fanatics to migrant to New Zealand in the first place".

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has just tweeted, calling the comments "disgusting" and saying they have no place in Australia.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush wraps up his brief police statement.

Mr Bush says the death toll has now risen to 49. 41 people were killed at the Deans Avenue mosque, 7 at the Linwood mosque and one of the injured who was treated at hospital subsequently died.

One man in his 20s has been charged with murder and will appear in court on Saturday. The involvement of three others detained is as yet unclear.

The commissioner confirmed none of the people arrested were on watchlists.

Mr Bush ended the briefing by reassuring the public that police eyes are "wide open".

"We are on top of this," he said.

The commissioner says this was a "very well-planned event".

There were two IEDs on one car. One has been defused and another is being defused by the security forces.

Two suspicious bags in Auckland, destroyed in controlled explosions earlier, are not believed to be connected to the Christchurch attack, he says.

Mr Bush also confirms the hospital was not targeted, as some had believed.

Mr Bush confirms the suspects were not known to the police.

"Part of our investigation ought to be to look back to ensure that law enforcement didn't miss any opportunities to prevent this horrendous event," he says

Officers will be standing guard around mosques "to ensure nothing further occurs", the commisioner says.

Mr Bush also says officers went "above and beyond" to help capture one of the suspects, saying he is "extremely proud" of his colleagues

A male in his late 20s has been charged with murder and should appear in court tomorrow, the commissioner says.

Officers are working to figure out the involvement of two other suspects arrested. A fourth person detained may not have had anything to do with the attacks, Mr Bush says

Police Commissioner Mike Bush is holding a press conference with updates on the Christchurch attacks.

One of the injured treated at hospital has now died, he says

The BBC’s Akbar Hossain in Dhaka says the Bangladeshi national cricket team had been training near the mosque and was about to go into the building when they were warned and escaped into a nearby park.

Reports suggest some team members arrived from a press conference which had been delayed and that otherwise the team would likely have been inside the mosque when the attack started.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent New Zealand condolences on behalf of his country and condemns the attackers.

He calls the shooting "deplorable", and says it is "the latest example of rising racism and Islamophobia".

Christchurch Hospital has issued a statement , externalconfirming it's treating 48 patients for gunshot wounds "ranging from young children to adults".

"Unless it’s essential, we ask that people don’t come to visit patients," said David Meates, chief executive of Canterbury District Health Board. There are already 200 relatives on site.

To help the hospital cope, women who are due to give birth have been asked to go to local maternity units if they can.

Saturday's planned cricket third test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand has reportedly been cancelled in the wake of the attacks.

The Bangladeshi cricket team narrowly escaped the shooting, arriving at the Al Noor by bus as the incident began.

Officials have said four people are currently in custody. Initial reports said that was three men and one woman.

In her latest press conference, the prime minister said three men "connected to this attack" were being held. One is an Australian citizen and "an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist", she said.

A fourth person was arrested separately, she said, but has not given further information.

Nicole Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister, tweets her "thoughts and solidarity" with New Zealand's Muslim community and all its people after the attacks in Christchurch.

"We must stand against Islamaphobia and all hate," she says, praising Muslims as a "valued part of our diverse and multicultural society".

Auckland's transport authority tweets that people are now being let back into Britomart station after police conducted controlled explosions on suspicious items at the scene.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there is "no place" in Australia and New Zealand for extremism and orders flags to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush is planning to give a press conference with updates on the Christchurch attacks at 9pm local time (0800 GMT)