One of the suspects in a pair of deadly New Zealand mosque shootings wrote in a manifesto that he supported President Trump “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose,” according to The Washington Post.
The suspected shooter reportedly wrote in a more than 70-page manifesto that he somewhat supported Trump: “As a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose? Sure. As a policy maker and leader? Dear god no.”
Trump harshly condemned the Friday attack in which 49 people were killed.
{mosads} “My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques,” he tweeted Friday morning. “49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!”
Trump’s daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump also condemned the shooting, tweeting, “49 innocent people were slaughtered in their place of worship during the terrorist attack on Christchurch Mosques. We join New Zealand and Muslim communities around the world in condemnation of this evil as we pray for the families of each victim and grieve together.”
The suspect also reportedly said he was inspired by Dylann Roof, who killed nine people in a Charleston, S.C., church in 2015 in a racially motivated attack.
The worshippers were killed during shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand during Friday morning prayers. At least 40 other people were injured.