New Zealand suspect Brenton Tarrant worked in a gym and went to Pakistan and Turkey

He had no criminal record in New Zealand or Australia and had not attracted the attention of the intelligence community for his extremist views. He previously worked at the Big River Squash & Fitness Center in Grafton, a town in northern New South Wales.

Gym director Tracey Gray, who has been using Tarrant for several years in the late 2000s, told CNN's Nine News that she was shocked by her alleged role in the attacks.

He was "as normal as one person to the next," Gray said. "He has never shown extreme extremist opinions or insane behavior."

Gray is asked if Tarrant could have radicalized himself during a trip to Europe and Asia in the early 2010s.

"I can not believe that someone with whom I probably deal on a daily basis … is able to do something so extreme," added Gray.

Tarrant's trip to Turkey, Pakistan and other countries

Tarrant has made several trips to Turkey and "spent a long time in the country," a senior Turkish official told CNN on Saturday.

He recently visited Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, Bulgarian Attorney General Sotir Tsatsarov told the press, according to the official BTA news agency. In 2016, Tarrant went to Montenegro and Serbia, Tsatsarov said.

Tarrant would also have stayed in northern Pakistan. Addressing CNN on Saturday, the owner of the Osho Thang Hotel in Nagar, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the northernmost region of Pakistan, said Tarrant had visited his hotel in October 2018. The owner from the hotel, who did not want to be named for security reasons, explained Tarrant as a "regular tourist".

"All I remember is that he was a fan of local cuisine, he would leave the hotel in the morning and come back at night," he said.

Tarrant's family in Grafton, Australia

Tarrant's father, Rodney Tarrant, died of cancer at the age of 49 in April 2010, according to an obituary from the Daily Examiner in Grafton. He has been described as a "dedicated family man" and a "competitive athlete". According to the obituary, Tarrant's father separated from his mother when he was young.

Tarrant's family is currently "badisting and cooperating" in the Grafton investigations, some 400 km north of Sydney, local police told CNN.

Acting mayor of Clarence Valley, Jason Kingsley, said Tarrant's alleged shares did not reflect Grafton or Australia. Kingsley called for unification as a result of a "very dark day" and for consideration for family and friends of "the individual".

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said the suspect was targeting New Zealand for his reputation as a safe space.

"This kind of extremism is not something we have seen here, but it is not here," she said. "He came here with hate in his heart and intent on killing in his mind, so he did not develop his hatred here, he came here to commit this act of terrorism."

How Tarrant had his weapons

The gunman used five firearms, including two semi-automatic weapons and two shotguns – legally acquired weapons, Ardern said.

The Prime Minister stated that the gunman possessed a "Category A" firearm license, obtained in November 2017. According to the police, a standard firearms license allows its holder to have a firearms license. obtain any number of rifles and sport rifles.

Authorities said that at least one of the firearms used during the shooting appeared to have been altered.

New Zealand's premier, Jacinda Ardern, has pledged to amend New Zealand's firearms legislation – considered relatively relaxed compared to most Western countries other than the United States – in response to the government's request. ;attack.