Christchurch shooting: Rugby player Sonny Bill Williams pays tearful tribute to victims
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All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams hoped the victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre were in 'paradise'.
All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams paid tribute to the victims of the Christchurch shooting, sharing an emotional video.
Williams took to Twitter to offer condolences to those who lost their lives in the shootings.
Tearful rugby star hoped the victims of the Christchurch mosque massacre were in "paradise".
The devout Muslim, wearing a skull cap, wiped away tears several times in the brief footage which he filmed sitting in a car.
Watch the video:
My heart is hurting about the news coming out of Christchurch. Sending love & prayers to the effected families❤️😢 pic.twitter.com/7PX9wc56b8
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) March 15, 2019
Police reported multiple deaths in attacks on two crowded mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch, where Williams played for the Crusaders earlier in his career.
"Just heard the news. I couldn't put it into words how I'm feeling right now," the World Cup-winning All Blacks centre said in the video posted on Twitter.
"Inshallah (God willing) everyone who's been killed today... you guys are all in paradise," he added.
"Just deeply, deeply saddened that this would happen in New Zealand."
The third cricket Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh has been cancelled in the wake of a shooting.
The visiting team narrowly avoided the shooting after arriving at the mosque for prayers.
New Zealand Cricket said they had decided to cancel the Test, which was scheduled to start at Hagley Oval on Saturday, after discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.