United States: Prime Minister Ardern offers condolences

Premier Jacinda Ardern expressed New Zealand's sympathy for those affected by the shooting in El Paso, Texas this weekend.

At least 20 people were killed and 26 wounded at a Walmart store in El Paso on Sunday.

Less than 24 hours later, nine people died and 16 were injured in Dayton, Ohio.

"New Zealand's condolences go out to those killed and injured during the shooting in El Paso and their loved ones," Ardern said before the news of the shooting in Ohio.

"I know that no one in New Zealand would want the terrorist act here to inspire anything other than a sense of unity against acts of hate, violence and terrorism."

The death toll in El Paso could rise, officials said, noting that some of the dozens of injured people were in critical condition.

President Donald Trump tweeted that "the reports are very bad, many have been killed," adding that he had spoken to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, "to promise full support from the federal government."

Ardern said that there was no confirmation that the shooting in El Paso was related to the shooting in Christchurch in March, where 51 people died.

However, the FBI is investigating allegations that the alleged gunman issued a manifesto reporting attacks on the mosque shortly before the attacks.

A manifesto containing white supremacist content would apparently have been posted online prior to the attack, on the same forum used by the alleged shooter in Christchurch.

The FBI is currently reviewing the manifesto, Texas media reported.

The alleged gunman – named Patrick Crusius, who has just turned 21 – is in detention. It is understood that no shot was fired by the police during his arrest.

In the El Paso manifesto, the author claims to support the actions of the alleged shooter of Christchurch, as well as the sentiments expressed in the manifesto.

The document invoked reasons similar to white supremacy. The author stated that they had spent less than a month preparing and listing the firearms that they planned to use.

At the Dayton shootings, reported by the PA at 9:00 pm (local time), the alleged gunman was also dead.

Dayton police tweeted that the shooters' situation had begun in the Oregon district at 1 am, but nearby officers were able to "quickly put an end to the situation."

At least 16 other people were taken to local hospitals, the police said.

The alleged shooter from Dayton was not named, AP also reported. The police did not specify where the shooting took place in the district. The FBI is participating in the investigation.

Terrea Little, spokeswoman for the Miami Valley Hospital, said 16 victims had been received at the hospital, but she could not confirm their health conditions.

Kettering Health Network spokeswoman Elizabeth Long said several victims of a shootout had been brought to conventional hospitals, though without specifying the number.

With a population of about 140,000, Dayton is located in western Ohio, approximately 90 km northeast of Cincinnati, 120 km west of Columbus. and 195 km east of Indianapolis.

On July 28, a 19-year-old boy killed three people, including two children, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in northern California.

The shooting in Dayton the 22nd mbadacre in the United States this year. The first 20 mbadacres committed in the United States in 2019 killed 96 people.

Additional report Associated Press, Washington Post.