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March 4 (UPI) -- Authorities in New Zealand arrested a man Thursday who they say was plotting to attack mosques to mark the anniversary of the Christchurch shootings that killed 51 people two years ago. The 27-year-old suspect and another person were arrested after threats appeared online last weekend. One was charged with threatening to kill and the other was released without being charged.
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Authorities said they were tipped off about the messages and searched two properties.
The person who wrote the postings said they would "take action" against mosques using car bombs and would live stream the attacks on on March 15, the two-year anniversary of the Christchurch attacks.
"My heart goes out to all of my friends who are feeling frightened by this," New Zealand cabinet minister Megan Woods tweeted.
"This is a threat against all of us and has no place in our country."
"There is no place for hate rhetoric and hate crimes in our country and every community no matter their race or beliefs should feel a sense of safety and belonging," Abdigani Ali, a spokesman for the Muslim Association of Canterbury, said in a report by the New Zealand Herald.
Last summer, a New Zealand judge sentenced Christchurch shooter Brenton Tarrant to life in prison for attacking the Masjid Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Center during Friday prayer two years ago.
Police said the threatening messages were posted last weekend by someone with a similar online name to Tarrant's.
