Mosque attack victim set to be nominated for bravery award

A victim of the Christchurch terror attacks who confronted the terrorist before he was killed will be nominated for a bravery award, the coronial inquest into the attacks has heard.

When the shooting began inside the Al Noor mosque on March 15, 2019, Hussein Al-Umari moved towards the terrorist and angrily confronted him while other worshippers fled for their lives. He was shot and killed in the process.

As a result of evidence heard during the inquest, police intended to nominate Al-Umari for a bravery award with the Prime Minister’s office, detective senior sergeant Craig Farrant confirmed to the Coroner’s Court yesterday.

Hussein’s sister Aya Al-Umari was dialled into the court’s livestream, and told The Press she was “lost for words from happiness” at hearing the confirmation.

“To have recognition for my brother … is really epic. It feels like a ton of weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Hussein has been accompanying me on this whole journey, and it’s just amazing. I’m just so happy that my brother’s bravery has been recognised. He is worthy of that.”

Farrant also gave evidence about issue seven – whether the terrorist had any assistance on the day. There was no evidence to suggest this, he said.

A part of a hard drive belonging to the terrorist had never been recovered, and a phone and tablet belonging to him had been factory reset weeks before the attack, the inquest heard. Family lawyer Nikki Pender suggested this could be him covering up communications with other people. Farrant said this was possible.

A university student with white supremacist beliefs was found to have posted a photo of the Al Noor mosque to a group chat six days before the attacks with the caption “target located.”

A child sex offender two days before the attacks also told their probation officer “something was going to go down at the mosque”, Pender said, saying it was a “remarkable coincidence” that two separate people had made such claims. Both people were extensively investigated but no links to the terrorist were identified, Farrant said. “Everything points back to him being a lone offender.”

Earlier yesterday, a lack of training around how to deal with a terrorist attack, as well as an inadequate communication structure used on the day between police and St John, was highlighted by counter-terrorism experts.

While the first responders made it work, specialists Scott Wilson and Frank Straub argue they weren’t fully equipped to deal with what they faced. The pair produced a comprehensive report looking into the emergency response on March 15. They have been involved in overseas responses to 9/11, various mass shootings in the United States, and the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.

Counsel for St John, James Wilding KC, suggested that given the attacks happened at multiple sites and unfolded quickly, there would be cognitive overload for responders, and less than optimal decisions may have been made. Both experts agreed.

“Would you agree that the actual response delivered from managing to arrest the offender … and having all of the patients triaged in the time frame that occurred, is actually remarkable?,” Wilding asked.

The response was good on the day, but it appeared St John was not best equipped to deal with what happened, Wilson replied.

“I couldn’t find a plan your organisation had … You don’t start dancing on the night of the ball.

“I’m not being critical of St John, I’m being critical of your processes,” he added.

Commanders from both police and ambulance should be alongside one another in a communications centre and on the ground to make decisions together as the emergency unfolded, which did not happen, both experts said.

Wilding asked if St John should be assured that a scene was safe before they entered. The experts agreed, but added that complete safety could not be guaranteed.

“It was clear people were gravely injured and dying that needed medical assistance… You’re never going to have a perfect situation … and you can’t wait,” Straub said.

“It’s not ideal, it’s not pleasant … but if you don’t do that, people are going to die.”

To questions about the emergency services processes used on March 15 from coroner Brigitte Windley, Wilson added: “I think New Zealand dealt with it well, but you don’t want to be making it up on the day.”

The inquest continues.