New Zealand shooting – Survivor of mosque massacre only realised his brother had been murdered when he re-watched killer’s livestream footage of slaughter
A SURVIVOR of the New Zealand mosque massacre had to watch the livestream footage of the slaughter to find out his brother had been killed.
Ashraf Ali, 58, was shot dead in a Christchurch mosque during Friday prayers while his elder brother Ramzan escaped.
The country's deadliest shooting in modern history resulted in 50 worshippers - including a three-year-old boy - being killed in Friday’s rampage, which took place across the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in the South Island city.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, is the alleged white supremacist who has been accused of murder.
The gunman's live-stream Facebook footage of the initial part of the massacre shows him moving into Al Noor's main prayer room - a large room with few exit doors - and firing at everyone he sees.
Ramzan, who survived the horrific attack, had to watch the footage to look for Ashraf, who was known as Babu to his friends.
Straight away I knew. 95 per cent, I was certain he was dead
Ramzan Ali
As he poured over the grainy video he spotted a grey-haired man lying on top of a pile of bodies wearing a Fijian rugby shirt.
Ramzan told : "Straight away I knew. 95 per cent, I was certain [he was dead].
"Five per cent in me was saying he could have survived."
A businessman from Suva, Fiji, Ashraf had arrived in Christchurch six days earlier to visit Ramzan, who is a halal food inspector in the city.
The pair went to the mosque near Hagley Park for Friday prayers where the attack took place.
LAST TO ESCAPE
As the killer began firing, Ramzan hid behind the bench he was praying on - due to a sore hip - before escaping out a window.
He believes he was the last person to get out alive as his peers were gunned down around him.
After his escape Ramzan searched frantically for news of his younger brother but it wasn't until he watched the horrifying footage of the attack that he was able to spot Ashraf. He had been killed.
TRAGIC LIFE
The youngest of nine siblings, Ashraf had experienced a great deal of trauma in his life.
His second wife died three months ago, and his first wife died three years ago.
He had one daughter who lived in Melbourne.
Ramzan described his brother, who owned a taxi company, as a "jack of all trades".
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
He said: "It he wanted to do something he would just do it. He won't even think twice. And he was always successful."
Ramzan added: "He will always be with me. I will never be able to forget him."
Their sister Tamina Bibi told : “His body hasn’t been released yet. I spoke to my family in New Zealand they are still waiting for the body to be released. I am also waiting for my visa.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.