New Zealand Shooter Visited Greece Twice - Reports

New Zealand Shooter Visited Greece Twice - Reports

ATHENS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th March, 2019) The gunman who perpetrated fatal shootings at two mosques in New Zealand visited Greece twice, and the Greek authorities are looking for traces of his stay in the country, local media reported.

The violent shooting in two mosques rocked New Zealand's eastern city of Christchurch on Friday, leaving 49 killed and dozens injured. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the shooting a terrorist act, saying it was the country's "darkest day." A total of three people were detained in the wake of the attack, including the 28-year-old suspected shooter, Australian national Brenton Harrison Tarrant.

According to Skai broadcaster, besides Turkey and Bulgaria Tarrant visited Greece in 2016. In early 2016, the Australian national arrived in Athens from Cairo and then headed to Bucharest. Afterwards, he returned back to Cairo via Athens.

Tarrant's second trip to Greece was in March 2016, and he stayed in Greece for about 15 days, the broadcaster said citing Interpol.

According to Alpha broadcaster, the Greek authorities made sure that the shooter had arrived at the Athens International Airport. They are now trying to find out whether he visited any other cities in Greece.

The Greek authorities believe that he may have traveled to some Greek city by bus. Tarrant also made a big trip across the Balkans by bus.

The broadcaster notes that one word on the shooter's rifle has attracted the attention of the authorities � Lepanto. This was the name of the modern city of Nafpaktos, where the famous naval Battle of Lepanto took place in 1571.

On Saturday, a court in New Zealand ruled to remand the suspected shooter in custody until April 5, while the police said they expected further charges to be brought against him.