A Maltese woman living in Christchurch has opened up about the horrific terrorist attack that occurred earlier today, leaving 49 people dead in a Mosque.

“We were confused: the news kept changing,” Zoë Henson told Lovin Malta at around midnight local time, hours after the attack. “We heard about one attack, then a second, then talk of the possibility of a third.”

“There’s definitely been a heavy energy here today,” she said of the city following the attack. “But Christchurch is a proactive and positive city, and it will bounce back stronger than ever.”

Zoë was at home with friends when the attack occurred, and her first thoughts went to her friends who were joining in the global environmental demonstrations happening all over the world.

“I was worried because I had friends who were taking part in the climate change protests in the city centre. There were lots of people, including lots of children taking part in the protests, all going on in the centre at the same time,” she said.

Following the attack, many buildings and companies have been on lockdown, however Zoë is determined to put on a brave face.

“We’ve been advised to stay indoors today, but I still drove over to my friend’s place,” she ended. “This attack won’t change the way me or my friends act.”

What do you think of this attack?

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]