By Tim Miller for the Otago Daily Times
A man facing a murder charge for the terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques may have been living in Dunedin for some time.
A police cordon at Somerville St in Dunedin, after the Christchurch mosque shootings. Photo: Tim Brown/ RNZ
Police last night confirmed they are at a Dunedin "location of interest" in relation to the Christchurch terror attack which killed 49.
A resident of Somerville St, where there was a heavy police presence this morning, told the Otago Daily Times he was still unable to return to his property in the suburb of Andersons Bay.
He had been told a police bomb squad was in town and residents may be able to return after midday.
A car used in the attacks was registered to an address in the street and bought at a Dunedin car yard.
A Somerville St resident, who did not want to be named, said he lived a few houses away from the accused and often saw him working out at a South Dunedin gym.
The resident said the man kept to himself and when they did talk, the man said it was only briefly.
It was not known if he lived by himself in the Somerville St property.
Armed police and a Fire and Emergency New Zealand command unit were present on the street this morning.
Police have been unable to say when residents evacuated from their homes last night would be able to return.
Last night more police flooded the street at about 7.30pm. A reporter at the scene at 8.20pm said residents near the property of interest had been evacuated and residents at the cordon told they were not allowed to return.
Al Huda Mosque in Dunedin was guarded by armed police for parts of yesterday and this morning a police car and two officers were stationed outside.
- This story first appeared in the Otago Daily Times.
