Christchurch Terror Attacks: People attend funerals of victims

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Europe

02:28

The first of the victims from the Christchurch Mosque shootings have been laid to rest. Hundreds of people attended the funerals of a father and his son, while other families endure the agonizing wait to receive the bodies of their loved ones. CGTN's Greg Navarro has more.

The bodies of a father and his teenage son killed in the Christchurch shootings were carried on the shoulders of mourners to a grave site. Another teenage son, who was badly injured but survived the attacks, remained at their side.

JAMIL LBZEL-BIZA ASWJ AUSTRALIA "Having the son standing over his father and brother, he himself wounded and to farewell and say to his father. I don't want to be here alone, that was devastating."

They are the first of 50 funerals that will take place here over the coming days - all of them killed by a lone gunman while praying inside 2 Mosques last Friday. Dozens more were injured.

JAMIL LBZEL-BIZA ASWJ AUSTRALIA "Even when he was giving condolences, we tried to not shake his hand and not lift his foot because they were wounded but he refused. He wanted to shake everyone's hand he wanted to show everyone that I appreciate everything that you've done and that is amazing."

Frustration is beginning to grow for other victim's families - forced to wait while authorities carefully build their case against the suspected gunman - and more importantly, make sure they've positively identified each person.

GREG NAVARRO CHRISTCHURCH "In fact, the chief coroner has reportedly said that the last thing anyone wants to return to the wrong body to the wrong family."

At a nearby school, students performed a traditional Maori dance in the presence of the country's Prime Minister. Two of the students here were among the shooting victims.

JACINDA ARDERN NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER "You have the support of all New Zealanders, we want to make sure that we do everything we can to look after you during this time and just know that everyone is grieving alongside with you as well."

Crime scene investigators were nearing the end of their work at one of the Mosques - both plan to open again by the end of the week. Tributes to the victims continue to grow across Christchurch - this one now stretching hundreds of metres. Samantha Fitzgerald didn't personally know any of the victims, but she wanted to do something to show her support for their families and the community.

SAMANTHA FITZGERALD CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENT "We are all in this together and we want the Muslim community to know that we are actually grieving."

And she says, like so many here, grieving alongside those directly impacted by the attacks. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Christchurch.