Father, 44, and son, 16, killed in Christchurch terror attack laid to rest in funeral guarded by armed cops

A FATHER and son gunned down in the Christchurch terror attacks were this morning the first to be buried.

Khaled Mustafa, 44, and his son Hamza, 16, had moved to New Zealand from war-torn Syria in search for a better life.

The popular teenager was on the phone to his terrified mum telling her about the attack at Al Noor mosque when he was shot and killed by maniac Brenton Tarrant.

His brother Zaid was also shot in the attack and attended the ceremony in a wheelchair following the shooting which left 50 dead and 50 injured.

His dad and brother's funeral were the first to take place at Christchurch’s Memorial Park Cemetery - with around 200 mourners gathered as armed police looked on.

The bodies were wrapped in white shrouds as per Islamic tradition and carried from a marquee at the cemetery where they were buried facing Mecca.

Islamic burials usually take place as soon as possible.

The bodies of Khaled and Hamza were in simple open boxes and carried above the heads of mourners.

Male mourners were inside the marquee while women were outside and police had given an evacuation plan for those attending.

Earlier this week devastated mum Salwa revealed how she was on the phone to her son when he was shot.

Heartbroken Salwa said Hamza had called her as Tarrant’s rage-fuelled bloodbath erupted on Friday afternoon.

She recalled: "He said ‘Mum, there’s someone come into the mosque and he’s shooting us’ and he was running with his brother who had been shot in his leg.

“After that I heard shooting and he screamed and after that I didn’t hear him.

"I called 'Hamza, Hamza', and I can hear his little voice and after that it was quiet.”

I called 'Hamza, Hamza', and I can hear his little voice and after that it was quiet

She tried to call him again a few minutes later and added: "His phone was on, but I couldn’t talk to him, after that, someone picked up the phone and told me your son can’t breathe, I think he’s dead.”

She added: "Our lives have completely changed.

";My husband was a very nice father, and a very catering person.

“Everyone loved Hamza, very caring, very polite.

"Everything good that you can imagine in this world was in my Hamza.”

When asked about the shooter she said: "God will punish him, my son and my husband are in heaven now and we’re going after them, we’re going to follow them to the heavens.”

Further funerals are expected to take place in the coming days and officials said 29 people were still in hospital with eight in a critical condition.

Meanwhile, PM Jacinda Ardern announced a two minutes would be held on Friday to remember the victims and the traditional Muslim call to prayer would also be broadcast on TV and radio.

Locals were also asked to wear headscarves in a show of solidarity with Muslims on Friday.

Politicians also said they would be monitoring threats from IS warning revenge but said people should remain calm.