NORTH TEXAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Police departments across the Metroplex increased security at mosques Friday morning in the wake of the deadly shooting at two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand.
At least 49 people were killed and at least 20 seriously injured in the massacre.
The Islamic Association of North Texas in Richardson had a police car stationed in front of the building as a precaution.
One of its members, Imad, said he came to the United States from Jordan two years ago and said he feel’s safe in North Texas but is devastated by the tragedy.
“Here, security is okay but what happened in New Zealand is very bad. It is very, very bad. I think this is terrorist,” he said.
The mosque issued a statement when news spread about the horrific tragedy down under.
Statement from the Islamic Association of North Texas following a deadly shooting at a New Zealand mosque. @570KLIF @WBAP247NEWS pic.twitter.com/9H11qk1gKa
— Clayton Neville (@ClaytonNeville) March 15, 2019
Police in Carrollton, Plano and Dallas have also said they’re on high alert will have an increased presence in Muslim communities.
Meanwhile, authorities in New Zealand said there are three men and a woman are in custody in connection with the massacre. They have not been identified at this time.
Investigators said one suspect is a self-described white supremacist and Australian who reportedly shared a link to a manifesto that had anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
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