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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Charlotte Graham-McLay

Christchurch attack inquiry to examine if Australian terrorist was radicalised online

Police stand guard in front of the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand on 17 March 2019, where one of two mass shootings occurred.
Police stand guard in front of the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 17 March 2019, where one of two mass shootings occurred. The online activities of the terrorist will form part of a coroner’s inquiry into the deaths of 51 Muslim worshipers. Photograph: Vincent Yu/AP

The online activities of the Australian white supremacist who opened fire on two New Zealand mosques – and how much of a role social media and internet platforms played in his radicalisation – will form part of a coroner’s inquiry into the deaths of 51 Muslim worshipers in the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack.

But the presiding coroner, Brigitte Windley, who announced the scope of her inquiry in a decision released on Thursday, has warned of “monumental hurdles” to exploring the terrorist’s online activities – including Brenton Tarrant’s attempts to wipe parts of his digital footprint before committing the attacks.

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