Samoa's National Council of Churches (NCC) will pray for world peace and Samoans living in Christchurch. 

NCC deputy chairman, Rev. Aisoli Iuli, told the Sunday Samoan that in the event of a natural disaster or a terrorist attack anywhere in the world, the Council and its members offer prayers to those affected.

He said as Christians everyone had to turn to the Lord for help in difficult times. 

“It is our habit, we Christians we always pray wherever those disasters exist.

“We pray to God to take away these threats and terrorists in the world. We are not afraid of them but we do pray to God to help us and take the pain away," he said. 

Rev. Aisoli said he heard about the events unfolding in Christchurch from his family, and they can offer prayers to the families of the victims, especially Samoans living in the affected area who need their prayers. 

The Chairman also emphasised that any attack on people who are worshiping should not mean that our faith in God should be questioned. 

“If people were under attack while they were worshiping or praying we cannot question God for the doings of these people (attackers),” he said. 

“God should not be questioned because the attacker are people of this world that have their own reasons for their actions, and we will only know their intentions after investigations...but we do pray for those affected in times of such disaster.” 

The attack, thought to be the deadliest against Muslims in the west in modern times, was dubbed terrorism by Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern as she led a shocked nation on one of its “darkest days”. 

The man arrested and charged for murder in relation to two mosques shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand is Brenton Harrison Tarrant. The 28-year-old is described as a “right wing extremist” that was armed with semi-automatic weapons rampaged on Friday afternoon in the Christchurch. The death toll from the indiscriminate shooting at the two mosques in Christchurch on Friday now stands at 49 with 48 treated for gunshot wounds. 

Reports from New Zealand media confirmed Tarrant, who is an Australian-born former fitness instructor, appeared in Court yesterday and is charged with murder. Police said more charges will follow.