How
Ethiopian who sat in mosque front row survived New Zealand massacre
Abdulkadir Ababora was sitting in the front row of a mosque
in Christchurch, New Zealand, last week when a 28-year-old Australian gunman
opened fire during Friday prayers.
Fifty worshipers were killed in the March 15 attacks in two
mosques, and the gunman appeared intent of taking as many lives as possible.
“Those who were hit with the automatic weapons fell, and he
went and checked those who were breathing and started shooting at those who
were already on the ground,” Abdulkadir told VOA’s Afaan Oromoo service.
Abdulkadir, meanwhile, lay under a bookshelf, pretending to
be dead.
“I pulled the Quranic bookshelf on top of me to hide my head
under and held my breath so that he didn’t detect I was alive,” Abdulkadir
said.
The kinds of weapons
used in the attack are now banned in the country. New Zealand’s prime minister,
Jacinda Ardern, announced Thursday that the government would outlaw
“military-style semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles,” effective
immediately.
Abdulkadir said he “saw blood flowing like a river” as
bullets pierced victims in his mosque.
“I didn’t think it was real, and I thought it was something
out of a cinema or a movie,” he added.
Originally from Ethiopia, Abdulkadir now works as a taxi
driver in New Zealand. He left his wife, who gave birth two weeks ago, at home
and his other children at school before heading to the mosque that ill-fated
day.
Adeleke’s triumph at Osun Guber Tribunal a victory for democracy — PDP
Adeleke’s triumph at Osun Guber Tribunal a victory for democracy — PDP
“I am not sure if he passed me thinking I was dead, but he
shot those who were on my left and right,” Abdulkadir said. “All I was thinking
about was my wife and my three children. … I was thinking that it was going to
be my turn, and I lost hope at the moment.”
Victims’ families have begun receiving their loved ones’
bodies. On Tuesday, six victims’ bodies were returned to families, according to
police, and the rest will soon get a place to rest. The victims included
refugees from Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan, along with other people seeking refuge.
Mike Bush, New Zealand’s commissioner of police, said
Thursday that all of the victims have been identified and their families
notified, earlier saying, “this is for us an absolute priority for family
reasons, for compassionate reasons and for cultural reasons.” Among those
killed was 3-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim, the youngest victim of the attacks.
Despite the attacks and ongoing islamophobic sentiments,
Abdulkadir remains hopeful.
“New Zealand is a peaceful place, and we have never seen
anything like this before,” he said. “Migrants are now getting help — more than
anytime before — and showing us support and strength.” (VOA)