Chief suspect Brenton Tarrant, 28, an Australian citizen, appeared in court on a murder charge
The attacker who killed 49 people had a licence for his guns, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says
He was not known to the security services
Pakistan names six nationals among those killed
The first victim to be identified was named by his family as Daoud Nabi, 71, originally from Afghanistan
Flags are flying at half-mast on government buildings in Christchurch
All schools in the city are in lockdown. This is the warning on the website of one, Papanui High School, right now.
It says the lockdown will lift soon but that the area outside is under police control.
Mohamed Nazir was at the Al Noor mosque when the shooting took place.
New Zealand mosque shooting: Eyewitness 'heard sound of gun'
A reminder of the unprecedented warning from the police commissioner in the past half hour. He told everyone across New Zealand to avoid going to mosques.
"Close your doors until you hear from us again."
Earlier New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern warned that the situation was still evolving, and that there could be more suspects at large.
She told reporters: "At the moment the police have stated they have one offender in custody, they have advised there may be other offenders. They are dealing with multiple scenes as well."
Reporters also pressed her on the identity of the person in custody, but she said she was not in a position to give any details.
The Test captain of the Bangladeshi cricket team has also tweeted about their narrow escape:
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The Bangladesh national cricket team was in the Al Noor mosque when the shooting happened. The New Zealand cricket team has posted this update on Twitter.
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This is Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking a few moments ago, describing the incident as "one of New Zealand's darkest days".
Jacinda Ardern: 'One of New Zealand's darkest days'
Some more details from New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush's recent statement.
"Police are responding with its full capability to manage the situation, but the risk environment remains extremely high."
The two shootings took place at the Al Noor mosque west of the centre and in a second mosque in the eastern suburb of Linwood.
One of the witnesses who was in the Al Noor mosque describes the moment of the attack. "The guy just started firing shots, we all took for cover," Avam Ali told Radio New Zealand.
"We didn't hear no more shots and we got up and obviously some people from the mosque ran out, and they came back in a pile of blood, some had been shot and then about five minutes after that the police turned up and they escorted us outside."
"I would describe it as an unprecedented act of violence. An act that has absolutely no place in New Zealand. This is not who we are."
She says the victims of the attack should be safe in New Zealand. "This is their home."
Ms Ardern says police are still dealing with an evolving situation.
"It I can tell you now this is and will be one of New Zealand's darkest days."
She confirms that one person is in custody.
"Whilst I cannot give any confirmation on fatalities and casualties I can say this is one of New Zealand's darkest days. This is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence."
"Migrants and refugees have chosen to make New Zealand their home and it is their home. For the person who perpetuated this violence it is not."
New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern says this is an unprecedented act in the country.
The person who has perpetuated this violence has "no place in this country".
New Zealand's police commisioner has asked 'anyone that was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today not to go".
"Close your doors until you hear from us again."
Pollice Commissioner Mike Bush says the fatalities are at two locations - the mosque in Dean Avenue and Linwood Avenue.
"We are unsure if there are any other locations outside of that area that are under threat."
New Zealand Police commisioner Mike Bush has posted a statement on Facebook. He says police are dealing with a "very serious and tragic series of events".
The former president of the Muslim Federation, Hazim Arafeh is cited by Radio New Zealand as saying he was devastated by what happened.
"I don't think there's anything worse in New Zealand history, we're devastated, we're shattered."