SYDNEY: New Zealand's police commissioner said on Friday 49 people were killed in Christchurch at two mosques and one man of four people arrested had been charged with murder.

As many as 41 people died at one mosque, seven at another and one person died in hospital, Mike Bush told reporters, describing the attack as a "very well-planned event".

The man charged with murder is in his late 20s and should appear in Christchurch court on Saturday, Bush added.

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• Forty killed, more than 20 injured in New Zealand mosque shootings: PM
• Many dead in New Zealand shooting at two mosques