Landlords saw no warning signs

Police armed offenders personnel search the property in Somerville St, Dunedin, on Saturday....
Police armed offenders personnel search the property in Somerville St, Dunedin, on Saturday. Photo: ODT
Accused mosque shooter Brenton Harrison Tarrant's landlords say he was a model tenant, and they saw no warning signs of the horror unleashed in Christchurch on Friday afternoon.

Fifty people have died since a gunman opened fire on two mosques, in Linwood mosque on Linwood Ave, and Al Noor mosque on Deans Ave.

A Dunedin couple - whom the Otago Daily Times agreed not to name - owned the Somerville St property where the Australian national lived, in the suburb of Andersons Bay, Dunedin.

''He kept the place clean and tidy, and paid his rent,'' the man said.

''He was polite, friendly and accommodating, and willing to allow access to the property at short notice.

''We had no suspicions whatsoever and are devastated by this horrific event.''

They were shocked by what had happened.

''We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the victims, their families and friends, and all the victims of this terrible tragedy,'' he said.

The property was cordoned off on Friday and the bomb squad, with a bomb detecting robot, arrived on Saturday morning.

The cordon was lifted at the weekend and neighbours evacuated from the area were allowed to return to their homes.

However, a police scene guard was at the property on Monday evening.

Tarrant has lived in Dunedin since at least 2017 and has been described by residents as both quiet and someone who liked to talk about his travels.

elena.mcphee@odt.co.nz

 

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