Man sacked, deported from UAE for 'celebrating' New Zealand terror attack

Published March 20, 2019
A policeman takes off his hat as a sign of respect as a hearse passes by at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 20, 2019. — Reuters
A policeman takes off his hat as a sign of respect as a hearse passes by at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 20, 2019. — Reuters

A company in the United Arab Emirates said an employee was fired and deported after he allegedly celebrated the mass killing of Muslims in New Zealand last week.

At least 50 people were killed and dozens wounded by a lone gunman at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday in what is the country's worst modern mass shooting.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a white supremacist who was living in New Zealand, was charged with murder on Saturday.

"Over the weekend, a Transguard employee made inflammatory comments on his personal Facebook account celebrating the deplorable mosque attack in Christchurch, New Zealand," security company Transguard said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy for the inappropriate use of social media, and as a result this individual was immediately terminated and turned over to the authorities to face justice," Managing Director Greg Ward said.

The company said the employee was deported by the UAE government.

Transguard, an Emirates Group brand, did not disclose the alleged comments. The name, nationality, and position of the employee were also not disclosed.

UAE government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An Emirates spokeswoman said the company had nothing to add to the Transguard statement.

The UAE has condemned the attack and expressed its condolences to the victims' families and to New Zealand.

Opinion

Editorial

Security challenges
Updated 08 Sep, 2024

Security challenges

It has been clear for a while that local populations in areas currently most affected by terrorism and militancy still do not want grand operations.
Irsa law changes
08 Sep, 2024

Irsa law changes

THE proposed controversial changes to the Irsa law, which aim to restructure the water regulator, will significantly...
Gaza polio campaign
08 Sep, 2024

Gaza polio campaign

AFTER 11 months of savage Israeli violence, Gaza’s health and sanitation systems have collapsed. As a result, the...
Furtive measures
Updated 07 Sep, 2024

Furtive measures

The entire electoral exercise has become riddled with controversy, yet ECP seems unwilling to address the lingering questions about the polls.
PCB hot seat
Updated 07 Sep, 2024

PCB hot seat

MOHSIN Naqvi is facing criticism from all quarters. Pakistan’s cricket board chief, who is also the country’s...
Rapes most foul
07 Sep, 2024

Rapes most foul

UNTIL the full force of the law is applied on perpetrators, insecurity will stalk Pakistan’s girl children and...