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Christchurch mosque shooting: A timeline of events

Click to play video: 'Timeline of New Zealand mosque shootings'
Timeline of New Zealand mosque shootings
WATCH: Timeline of New Zealand mosque shootings – Mar 15, 2019

Police in New Zealand are continuing to investigate the deadly shootings that killed 49 people at two separate mosques in Christchurch on Friday.

Another 48 people were injured and are being treated in hospital.

WATCH: Latest news videos of the Christchurch mosque shooting

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Here’s a timeline of what happened. All times are local New Zealand time (UTC +13).

1:30 p.m.

The racist, anti-immigration and anti-Muslim manifesto is posted online on 8chan, a forum-based website. The manifesto described the author’s views on “white genocide,” a term white supremacists use to describe immigration and the growth of minority populations. It also mentions the two mosques by names as targets.

Around 1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

After parking his car in an alley near Al Noor Mosque, a man walks in the front door of the mosque.

He opens fire on the people inside the building. Witnesses say the shooter fired indiscriminately.

The shooter returns to his car and retrieves another gun before firing more shots both outside and inside the mosque.

He then drove away.

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Less than seven kilometres away, a shooter also opened fire at the Linwood Islamic Centre, killing seven people.

The gunman is reportedly disarmed and runs away.

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2:35 p.m.

Police confirm on Twitter they are investigating reports of shots fired and ask anyone in Central Christchurch to stay inside.

2:54 p.m.

Schools have gone into lockdown. New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush says in a news conference there is an active shooter at large, and urges people to stay off the streets.

WATCH: Press conference of Police Commissioner Mike Bush 

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Around 3:30 p.m.

Police said two explosive devices were found inside a crashed SUV on Strictland Street, about three kilometres from the Al Noor Mosque.

4 p.m.                                                     

Officials confirm one person is in custody. Video of a crashed SUV on Brougham Street, near Strictland Street, shows police removing a man from the vehicle.

WATCH: Onlooker captures moment of arrest of Christchurch mosque shootings suspect

Click to play video: 'Christchurch Shooting: Onlooker captures moment of arrest of Christchurch mosque shootings suspect'
Christchurch Shooting: Onlooker captures moment of arrest of Christchurch mosque shootings suspect

6:16 p.m.

Police said there have been four people arrested in connection to the incident, but one person is later released. Only one person so far has been charged with murder.

Around 8 p.m.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labels the massacre a terrorist attack.

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“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack. From what we know, it does appear to have been well planned,” she said.

“These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand and, in fact, have no place in the world.”

10:48 p.m.

Police cordon off an area in Dunedin while searching a residence on Somerville Street. Dunedin is about 360 kilometres from Christchurch.

Upcoming on Saturday

The 28-year-old man charged with murder is expected to appear in court.

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