New Zealand attack: Police in Australia search homes linked to Christchurch mosque shooting suspect

Family of alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant are assisting investigation, say counterterrorism officers

Australian police have searched two homes linked to the suspect in the New Zealand mosque shootings.

The New South Wales Joint Counterterrorism Team executed warrants at properties in the towns of Sandy Beach and Lawrence at 8.30am local time on Monday.

It has been reported that the sister of alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant lives at the Sandy Beach home while his mother lives in Lawrence.

“The primary aim of the activity is to formally obtain material that may assist New Zealand Police in their ongoing investigation,” the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police said in a joint statement.

“The community can be assured that there is no information to suggest a current or impending threat related to the search warrants.”

Police said the family of Mr Tarrant were assisting the investigation into the Christchurch attacks.

The latest developments came two days after the 28 year-old Australian appeared in court charged with murder over the mass shootings that left 50 people dead.

He is said to have posted a 74-page manifesto online and emailed it to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern minutes before carrying out the attack while livestreaming it on Facebook.

Forty-two people were killed at the Al Noor mosque before another seven were killed at Linwood mosque. One person died later at Christchurch Hospital.

Officials said 34 wounded remain at the same hospital, including 12 in critical condition. A four-year-old girl at a children’s hospital in Auckland was also listed as critical.

On Sunday thousands of people paid tribute at makeshift memorials to victims of the massacre by leaving flowers, candles, balloons and messages of condolence outside the Al Noor mosque and the city’s botanic gardens.

One tribute, which contained cut-out paper hearts under a tree, read: “We made a heart for you. 50 hearts for 50 lives.”

Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press