Mosques reopen in Christchurch after attack

People in large number incluiding and a Jordanian prince visited Al Noor mosque in Christchurch on Saturday after it reopened for the first time since a gunman killed 42 people there. A total 49 people were killed in Christ church mosque attacks.

Auckland: People in large number including a Jordanian prince visited Al Noor mosque in Christchurch on Saturday after it reopened for the first time since a gunman killed 42 people there.

Hundreds of people stopped at the to lay flowers or pray after police removed a cordon and those running the mosque decided to reopen, even though they hadn't yet had time to replace the carpet.

Inside the mosque, there were few signs of the carnage from eight days earlier.

Crews had replaced windows that worshippers smashed in a desperate attempt to escape when the attacker mowed them down during Friday prayers.

Bullet holes were plastered over and painted. The gunman killed a total of 50 people at two mosques.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a crowd in Auckland that leaders around the world had seen New Zealand's grief and offered their messages of support.

Ardern was speaking at the Masjid e Umar Mosque, which had an open vigil to remember those killed in the attack.

There was a touching moment after the event when a young girl from a Muslim family, Saffiye Basar, gave Ardern a card and then hugged her.