Mosque attack victim 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 in the South Island city 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 Stuff 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.”