Muslims attacked: "We still love this country" – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

The imam who led prayers at a mosque in New Zealand Friday when an armed gunman opened fire on worshipers said Saturday that relations between the Muslim and the country would not be affected.

"We still love this country," said Ibrahim Abdul Halim, Imam of the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch, who added that extremists "Never, never, they will affect our confidence."

Halim recalled that Friday afternoon prayers were generally the first shots fired by a heavily armed man were heard.

"Everyone is thrown to the ground, some women started to cry, but there are people who died on the spot," he recalled.

However, he added, New Zealand Muslims still feel safe in this Pacific country.

"My children live here, we are happy," he said.

According to him, most New Zealanders "were immediately ready to offer their support to all of us, to give us all our solidarity".

This Saturday, he said, strangers approached to support him and give him a hug.

"They started to … embrace us, express our solidarity, it's very important for us," he said.

Friday's attacks by an extremist right-wing extremist in two mosques in Christchurch left 49 dead and nearly 50 wounded.