CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Turkey’s president says authorities are investigating the movements and possible contacts in Turkey of the man suspected of attacking two mosques in New Zealand.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan also demanded that New Zealand ensure that the perpetrators of the attack be punished.
State broadcaster TRT says the suspect, Brenton Tarrant, visited Turkey twice in 2016 — on March 17-20 and Sept. 13 to Oct. 25. The station has released a security camera image of him arriving at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.
Tarrant reportedly visited a number of countries, including Bulgaria last November.
Three Turkish citizens were injured in Friday’s attack in Christchurch, which killed at least 49 people.
