'You know this face': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
December 01, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2023
'You know this face': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court

World+Biz

Reuters
26 August, 2020, 02:05 pm
Last modified: 26 August, 2020, 02:09 pm

Related News

  • In her own words: A Hiroshima bomb survivor learns English to tell her story
  • Shots give Covid-19 survivors big immune boost, studies show
  • Survivors tell of horror, hardship in Mozambique attack
  • Christchurch massacre: Inquiry finds failures ahead of attack
  • Christchurch shooting: Gunman given life imprisonment without parole

'You know this face': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court

Some of Aziz’s children were with him at the mosque in the suburb of Linwood when Tarrant opened fire without warning in an attack he livestreamed on Facebook.

Reuters
26 August, 2020, 02:05 pm
Last modified: 26 August, 2020, 02:09 pm
'You know this face': Christchurch hero confronts killer in court

One of the heroes of the Christchurch terror attack confronted gunman Brenton Tarrant on the third day of sentencing hearings on Wednesday, telling him: "You should thank God on that day I didn't catch you".

Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah gives a victim impact statement during the sentencing of mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant at the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, August 26, 2020. John Kirk-Anderson/Pool via REUTERS

"You know this face. The one who chased you out," Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah told Tarrant, who is facing a life sentence without parole for his killing spree.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The Australian father-of-four told the court how he offered himself as a target to protect worshippers inside a mosque where Tarrant had opened fire without warning. In all, 51 people were killed in the attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on March 15 last year.

"I ducked in between the cars. My two sons were looking from the side of the mosque. That coward kept shooting at me. They said 'Daddy please come inside'. I told them you go inside I will be alright," Aziz told the court.

"I called that coward. 'You are looking for me, I am here!' I didn't want him to go inside the mosque because we had 80 to 100 people praying at that time."

When Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist, returned to his vehicle, Aziz picked up one of his discarded weapons and used it to smash the window of the car.

"When I smashed his side window I saw fear in his eyes for his own life. He looked at me, gave me the finger and told me 'I will fucking get all of you'," said Aziz.

Tarrant took off in his car but Aziz chased him down the road brandishing the discarded gun, which was out of ammunition.

"That coward saw me on his back mirror. He came to the other lane and drove through a red traffic light ... He just wanted to save his own life," said Aziz, who was born in Afghanistan.

Some of Aziz's children were with him at the mosque in the suburb of Linwood when Tarrant opened fire without warning in an attack he livestreamed on Facebook.

Seven people were killed there but scores managed to escape thanks partly to Aziz's actions. His children survived.

"You will never forget these two eyes you ran from," Aziz told Tarrant, who has sat impassively through hours of emotional testimony from survivors and victims' families.

Justice Cameron Mander told Aziz: "Before you go, I've seen the video and want to acknowledge your courage." The courtroom's public gallery erupted in applause at the judge's comments.

Mander is expected to hand down his sentence on Thursday.

Top News

Christchurch shooting / confronts / survivor

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 
    Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 
  • Online nomination submission fails to gain traction
    Online nomination submission fails to gain traction
  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sketch: TBS
    PM for putting climate change victims in charge of fighting its impact

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: TBS
    I am afraid even to post a thank you note on Facebook: Khadija
  • File photo of Bangladesh Bank. Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
    Remitters can now deposit in forex – with up to 9% interest
  • Mominul Islam. File Photo: Courtesy
    IPDC CEO Mominul to step down after 4 terms
  • Despite some positives like, changes in wordings the major things workers demand have not been reflected in the amendments. Photo: TBS
    Bangladesh could be target of US labour policy, warns Washington mission
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
    Bangabandhu Tunnel: Tk4.11 crore in toll collected in first month
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Dollar rate cut again, by Tk0.25, within a week

Related News

  • In her own words: A Hiroshima bomb survivor learns English to tell her story
  • Shots give Covid-19 survivors big immune boost, studies show
  • Survivors tell of horror, hardship in Mozambique attack
  • Christchurch massacre: Inquiry finds failures ahead of attack
  • Christchurch shooting: Gunman given life imprisonment without parole

Features

Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 

Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 

1h | Panorama
Kissinger’s foreign policy and courses of action during his active years in office altered the lives of millions across the world. PHOTO: COLLECTED

Kissinger: A quiet end to a bloody legacy

4h | Panorama
TBS Sketch

‘Furniture export climate not the best it can be’

4h | Panorama
Photo: Nayem Ali

Falling into brown

21h | Features

More Videos from TBS

Is USA the obstacle to WB's climate finance?

Is USA the obstacle to WB's climate finance?

14h | TBS Economy
Expatriates can now deposit in forex

Expatriates can now deposit in forex

15h | TBS Economy
How much aid has entered Gaza?

How much aid has entered Gaza?

17h | TBS World
The maximum interest rate for NBFI loans is 13.18%

The maximum interest rate for NBFI loans is 13.18%

18h | TBS Economy
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]