The prime minister is being questioned over whether the attacker should have been on a terror watch list. She says this is one of the things that is already being looked in to.

Officials were aware of the rise of extremist, Islamophobic, right-wing groups in New Zealand, she says. But they were not aware of this individual.

She has asked agencies to look for any posts or details on social media.

"Those are exactly the questions that should be answered and are exactly the questions that have been asked," she says.

Image source, AFP

The prime minister has previously said New Zealand's gun laws will have to be amended and is being asked further questions about this in her press conference.

She says the guns used in the attack appear to have been modified, which will be one of the challenges involved in changing the laws.

When asked if she has a particular response to the attack as a new parent, she says: "I imagine I am feeling the same emotions as every New Zealander watching this."

The PM says New Zealand authorities are working hard to build up a full picture of all the events and what led up to the attack, including liaising closely with Australia.

The man now charged over the attack is an Australian national.

Ms Ardern says she is in close contact with Australian PM Scott Morrison.

New Zealand's terror threat level has been raised to high. PM Jacinda Ardern says this means that an immediate multi-agency response kicks in and "we leave nothing to chance".

"We appear to be primarily dealing with one perpetrator, but want to be sure we don't take anything for granted in ensuring New Zealanders' safety".

The prime minister says all those involved in recovering the bodies know how important it is for relatives "to be reunited with their loved ones as quickly as they can".

She says financial support is being made available to people who have lost a loved one on whom they were financially dependent.

PM Jacinda Ardern says the suspect's car was full of weapons and it is clear is was "his intention to continue with his attack".

He is facing one charge of murder so far but "obviously there will be further charges laid".

"A complex and comprehensive investigation is under way," the prime minister says.

But officials are also working closely with the community to ensure those killed in the attack are treated in ways "consistent with the Muslim faith".

The hope is that all bodies will be removed from the Al Noor mosque at Hagley Park by the end of the day.

Many of the victims will need to be transported to other countries for funerals.

She has just given the following updates:

39 people remain in hospital, 11 in intensive care. Injured range from young children to the elderly.

As for the arrest of main suspect, this took place 36 minutes after police received the first call, she said.

Police in New South Wales, Australia, say the family of the accused attacker are co-operating with police, reports Newstalk ZB., external

The site quotes Police Commissioner Mick Fuller as saying the accused's family contacted police after seeing media reports.

Australia's Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael Willing was also quoted as saying he was only known to police for "minor traffic matters".

One of our reporters in Christchurch explains why the face of the alleged attacker is being blurred out in images featured in our coverage (see post at 22:21) - it's a court order.

This is the briefing given recently by officials at Christchurch Hospital, which has been treating the victims.

Several sporting and music events have been cancelled in New Zealand because of the heightened security situation following Friday's attack.

The Bangladesh versus New Zealand cricket test match, due to take place on Saturday, was called off almost immediately. Some of the Bangladeshi tourists were caught up in the attack, though they were not harmed.

A rugby match between NZ teams the Highlanders and Crusaders, scheduled to take place in Dunedin on Saturday night, is off, local media report.

Canadian singer Bryan Adams has called off his concert in Christchurch. It was to have been held in Hagley Park, the scene of the attack.

However, metal band Slayer are as far as we know going ahead with their Sunday concert in Christchurch. That's causing some controversy., external

Here are some of the ways that tributes have been paid to the attack victims by communities around the world in the past few hours.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP

Association President Chris Cahill said in a statement, external that he "absolutely agrees" with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's call for tighter gun control.

“It is sickening that it has taken this horrific event to wake us up to our vulnerability."

Here's more on New Zealand's gun laws from the BBC's Reality Check series.

A man who was briefly detained on Friday has told New Zealand media he will seek compensation for wrongful arrest.

Stephen Millar, 30, was dressed in camouflage clothing while heading to the Papanui High School in Christchurch to pick up a relative as the massive police operation was unfolding.

"They have given me a verbal warning for stupidity and the only thing they could say was [that it was] disorderly behaviour," he told the New Zealand Herald. , external

"They humiliated me publicly."

Police have not commented on his arrest but said they were dealing with a "fluid, fast, live and evolving situation".

As it often does after disasters, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is operating a search site to help people get information on loved ones. , external

The site allows people to register themselves under "I am alive" or to list a missing person. The list of those missing is long, and contains names from countries all around the world.

A video has been posted social media allegedly showing a group of men attacking another man outside a mosque in east London, UK.

The incident reportedly took place during Friday prayers at the mosque on Cannon Street.

A 27-year-old victim has been taken to hospital, according The Independent newspaper., external

Officials in Christchurch have set up a place for people to leave flowers, in the Botanic Gardens close to the Al Noor mosque. Outside Christchurch, these flowers and written dedications were being placed outside a mosque in Wellington's Kilbirnie neighbourhood.

Image source, Getty Images

The police commissioner also confirms that one of the four people detained on the day was released shortly afterwards.

He says it was "a member of the public who just wanted to get their kids home, but decided to take a firearm".

Mr Bush says the person detained was "not willing to be arrested".

In describing the arrest, which involved the blocking of the suspects vehicle, he says: "We also believe not only were there IEDs [improvised explosive devices] in that vehicle - so it a very dangerous manoeuvre - there were also firearms in that vehicle.

"Police put themselves in real danger to keep the public from further harm."

In response to whether there may be further attacks, he says there is "no intelligence about current imminent threats but I would never assume anything in any situations".

"That's why it is so important that we resource the investigation and intelligence phase to make sure we understand everything and understand it urgently."