NZ: Christchurch police awarded after terror attacks

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE (AA) – Two New Zealand police officers received a bravery award Wednesday for capturing the alleged gunman who carried out terrorist attacks in March on two mosques in Christchurch.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented the award to each of the officers at a private ceremony in Wellington after they were nominated by their colleagues.

The New Zealand Police Association declined to disclose the officers’ names pending the trial of the alleged attacker, Brenton Tarrant.

The officers said they were extremely proud to have been given the award and that they were simply doing their jobs, the association said in a statement.

"For us, knowing we played our part in possibly preventing further casualties is really important," they said.

On March 15, 2019, Tarrant, an Australian national, killed 51 people, including women and children, and wounded 49 others at the Nur and Linwood mosques in the city of Christchurch.

Turkish citizens Mustafa Boztas, Zekeriya Tuyan and Temel Atacocugun were injured in the attack. Tuyan, who suffered serious injuries, died in the hospital where he was being treated for 50 days.

*Writing by Dilara Hamit in Ankara