Indonesian among 49 killed in Christchurch shootings: Foreign Ministry

TERRORISM - JAKARTA. An Indonesian national identified as Muhammad Abdul Hamid or Lilik Abdul Hamid was among the 49 worshippers killed by a right-wing extremist at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The ministry said it received the information from the management of Al-Noor Mosque where an extremist, identified as Brenton Tarrant, opened fire during Friday prayers, killing 41 people at the site.

He then rampaged through another mosque, killing seven people. Another worshipper succumbed to wounds at the hospital.

"Soon after getting the confirmation, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi contacted Ibu Nina, the deceased's wife," the ministry said in a statement released on Saturday.

The government conveyed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and would provide needed assistance, the statement said.  

Earlier on the day, Retno said on her Twitter account @Menlu_RI that she had a phone call with her New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters to convey Indonesia's condolences and sympathy. 

"I reiterated Indonesia's strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Christchurch," she said. "I offered any assistance needed by New Zealand in this time of sorrow." 

According to the ministry's data, eight Indonesians were at the two New Zealand mosques when the shootings happened. Five were able to escape, two were injured and another, Muhammad Abdul Hamid, was killed.