Christchurch mosque shootings: Honouring the dead - Osama Adnan Yousef Abukwaik

Osama Abu Kwaik with his three children. Photo / Supplied

Youssef Abukwaik was alerted to the Christchurch terrorist attack while scrolling through his Facebook newsfeed.

It didn't take him long to realise his brother Osama Adnan Yousef Abukwaik was likely at Friday prayers at his local mosque, which turned out to be Al Noor on Deans Ave.

He thought to himself there wouldn't be too many mosques in Christchurch and the likelihood of his brother being caught up in the attack was high.

Youssef tried to call his brother but Osama's phone was off. He left messages urging him to call back as soon as possible.

"I called his wife and she told me she hasn't been in contact and she could not reach him either," Youssef told the Herald.

"That's pretty much where a night of hell started for us."

A student pays his respects at a park outside the Al Noor Mosque. Photo / AP

Youssef Abu Kwaik lives in California. His brother lived in Christchurch with his wife and three children after migrating from Egypt.

Stranded on the other side of the world, Youssef was in constant contact with Osama's wife, three sisters and parents.

The family spent Friday night praying Osama would be fine or injured and unable to answer his phone.

However, the next day the news came through. Osama had died in the terrorist attack.

"The imam of the mosque tried to identify the victims and he was able to identify my brother in the first half an hour or so," Youssef said.

"I lost a brother ... [he] was killed in a hate crime, a terrorist hate crime."

Youssef had to share the devastating news with each of his family members individually.

Flowers and messages of support and love placed at the police cordon in Deans Ave, Christchurch. Photo / Michael Craig

Born in 1981, Osama Adnan Yousef Abukwaik - whose family are of Palestinian origin - grew up in Egypt and studied in Cairo, earning a masters of engineering.

He later became a project manager but when the Egyptian Government ordered all companies to let go of Palestinian and Syrian workers he was without a job.

After that, he spent two years in a low-paid job unrelated to his expertise before deciding to emigrate.

Using his entire savings, Osama paid for his family to move to New Zealand, somewhere he would begin to love.

"He told his wife last week he loved New Zealand so much he wanted to live, die and be buried in it," Youssef said.

"He also wants his children to grow up in [New Zealand], so we will carry out his wish.

Osama Abu Kwaik. Photo / Supplied

"New Zealand's reaction is adorable and it represents and tells me why my brother loved this country, why he wanted to live and die in it."

Youssef wanted to reinforce the message that hate speech or actions should not be allowed to become part of New Zealand's everyday life.

"Terrorism does not belong to a specific religion. You have to stop hate, take action and be active, don't let it spread."