Prince William speaks out on five-year anniversary from Christchurch terrorist attack

Prince William has called on people to "come together and unite against extremism" in a statement in remembrance of the 2019 terrorist attack which killed 51 people in a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Taking to social media on the five-year anniversary of the "horrific event", the Prince praised the response of New Zealand's Muslim community to the attack - and issued a rallying cry going forward.

William said: "Five years on from the terrorist attack in Christchurch, my thoughts are with the families and friends of those lost, those injured and the entire Muslim community in New Zealand who responded to this horrific event with such courage and fortitude.

"When I visited Christchurch in the weeks that followed, I was struck by the unity forged by an attack which aimed to sow division.

Prince William

"It is a constant reminder to me of why we must come together and unite against extremism."

The attack, which was carried out on March 15, 2019, saw Australian Brenton Tarrant commit two mass shootings at a pair of mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 and injuring 40.

Tarrant had live-streamed the attack online, and was caught by police as he was driving to a third mosque.

At the time, New Zealand's then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the attack - the deadliest in the country's modern history - was one of New Zealand's "darkest days".

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The UN has since designated March 15 the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.