Two awarded top bravery honor in New Zealand mosque attack
ABC News
Two Muslim worshippers who at different times charged toward a gunman to try and stop his massacre have each been awarded New Zealand’s highest honor for civilian bravery
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Two Muslim worshippers who at different times charged toward a gunman to try and stop his massacre were each awarded New Zealand's highest honor for civilian bravery on Thursday.
Both men are credited with helping save others in the 2019 attack at two Christchurch mosques in which 51 people were killed. One of the men awarded the New Zealand Cross, Dr. Naeem Rashid, was himself killed when he tried to tackle the gunman. The other recipient, Abdul Aziz, survived after dodging bullets and chasing the gunman away.
The award had previously been given to just two other people since it was started in 1999. Eight more people on Thursday were also given other bravery awards for their roles in helping people during the shootings.
Rashid and his son were at the Al Noor mosque with dozens of others for Friday prayers when the gunman entered the main prayer room, shooting at everyone he could.
