Suspected Christchurch mosque shooter appears in court

The main suspect in the killings of 49 people in shootings at two mosques in New Zealand on Friday has appeared in court on a single murder charge.

Further charges are expected to be made against him.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, who was handcuffed and clad in a white prison jumpsuit, made an “OK” hand gesture during his appearance — a symbol used by white nationalists and racist internet trolls, according to a photo published by the New Zealand Herald.

PM Jacinda Ardern said Tarrant had five guns and a firearms license, adding: "Our gun laws will change."

Two others are in custody. None of those detained had a criminal record.

He was remanded in custody without plea and is due to appear in court again on 5 April.

He killed 41 people at the Al Noor Mosque in the centre of the city, then slaughtered seven more at the Linwood Mosque about 3 miles away, authorities said.

Another victim died at a nearby hospital.

Tarrant livestreamed his attack on Facebook and left behind a manifesto, in which he rambled about white supremacy and racism.

The prime minister called the attack in Christchurch "an act of terror". Officials are still carrying out the identification of the victims.

The first person to be publicly identified has been named as 71-year-old Daoud Nabi, originally from Afghanistan.

Ardern said the guns used by the attacker appeared to have been modified, and that the suspect's car was full of weapons, suggesting "his intention to continue with his attack".

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, she said the suspect had obtained a gun license in November 2017 that allowed him to buy the weapons used in the attack.

"The mere fact... that this individual had acquired a gun license and acquired weapons of that range, then obviously I think people will be seeking change, and I'm committing to that."

New Zealand's Attorney-General David Parker said the government would look into banning semi-automatic weapons, but that no final decision had been made. Previous attempts to tighten gun laws in a country with a strong gun lobby and a culture of hunting have failed.