Up to 40,000 people gather at a memorial in Christchurch honouring the 50 victims of the mosque terror attack

• The vigil began at North Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday  
• Prayers by Muslim and Catholic leaders led the event, followed by musical acts
• 42 victims of the Christchurch terror attack have been buried including a child, 3
• The alleged shooter, Brenton Tarrant, is charged with one count of murder  

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Up to 40,000 people have gathered at a Christchurch park for a vigil honouring the 50 victims of the mosque terror attack. 

The vigil, held in North Hagley Park, began at 5pm local time with prayers led by Muslim and Christian leaders, followed by performances from opera singers and a kapa haka group. 

On March 15, accused Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant allegedly entered the Masjid al Noor and Linwood Masjid mosques and gunned down 50 Muslims. Another 50 people were injured. 

The 28-year-old allegedly live-streamed the terror attack on Facebook. 

Tarrant has been charged with one count of murder and is being held in New Zealand’s only maximum security prison.   

Up to 40,000 people have gathered at a Christchurch park for a vigil honouring the 50 victims of the mosque terror attack (pictured)

The vigil, held in North Hagley Park, began at 5pm local time with prayers led by Muslim and Christian leaders, followed by performances from opera singers and a kapa haka group

The organiser of the vigil, Scott Esdaile, said he began planning the event the night of the Christchurch terror attack and wanted to show support for the Muslim community. 

‘We are going to have an Islamic prayer to start with and then we’ll follow that with a karakia, and then we’ll go into a song and then we’ll have a Catholic prayer after that,’ Esdaile said to the Otago Daily Times. 

‘We have a few other things planned for the evening. A lot of singing, we want to make sure that we sing the best song ever and that is our National Anthem and we want to sing it loudly and proudly.’ 

Buses and concrete bollards have blocked off roads near the park and heavily armed police are patrolling during the vigil. 

Buses and concrete bollards have blocked off roads near the park and heavily armed police are patrolling during the vigil

Organisers of the vigil said they began planning the event the night of the Christchurch terror attack

Forty-two victims have been buried since the terror attack, including a three-year-old boy. 

A group burial for 26 of the victims was held on Friday after a Muslim Call to Prayer followed by a two-minute silence.  

The last of the bodies were released to families on Thursday, but it hasn’t been confirmed whether the burials have ended as some victims may be repatriated to their homelands.  

Forty-two victims have been buried since the terror attack, including a three-year-old boy

The last of the bodies were released to families on Thursday. Some victims may be repatriated to their homelands

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