Christchurch mosque shootings: Hundreds gather in London's Trafalgar Square for vigil

As the sun began to set over the thousands of people who filled London's Trafalgar Square, the solemn sound of a conch horn was heard – marking the start of a vigil paying tribute to those killed in the Christchurch mosque shootings.

Kiwis, Londoners, and visitors from all over the globe gathered to remember those who had died at their places of worship.

The vigil; "Stand for Solidarity with New Zealand" took place a week on from when a lone gunman opened fire at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre.

A vigil in London's Trafalgar Square to honour those who were killed in the Christchurch mosque shootings. Photo / Corazon Miller

He killed 50 people – the youngest 3-year-old Mucad Ibrahim – and injured dozens more in the attack on March 15.

A message from Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel was one of the first to be read out to the many people who stood in the square, bearing banners of peace, holding electric candles and bouquets of flowers.

In a note read on her behalf, Dalziel expressed her pride at how the New Zealand Government had responded to the terror attack.

Kiwis are due to gather in Trafalgar Square for a vigil. Photo / Corazon Miller

"What happened last Friday will never define us…what has happened since, the outpouring of love, that's what defines us.

"Our Muslim community does not stand alone…We all stand together."

She also thanked London for standing with the citizens of Christchurch, and the rest of New Zealand.

New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK Sir Jerry Mateparae followed with a similar expression of gratitude for the British community's support.

He sent a clear message that the ''unprecedented terror attacks" were not going to be tolerated and that New Zealand's diversity of culture was a strength to be celebrated.

"An attack on one of our communities is an attack on all of us."

A street artist in London draws a tribute to Christchurch. Photo / Corazon Miller

A member of the London Muslim community who led the call to prayer first thanked New Zealand for "championing humanity" in its response to the terror attacks.

He then read the names of the 50 who had lost their lives in the terror attack, which was then followed by a minute of silence.

New Zealand's national anthem was then sung in Maori and English before the ceremony drew to a close with the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club leading the emotional waiata and a rousing haka.

Among the Kiwis who stood in the crowd were Sophia and Rebecca, who said they wanted to be around others as they reflected on the events of last week.

Sophia said it was difficult to process the gravity of what had happened, but it "was lovely to see people coming together to support each other".

She hoped people would hear the message coming out of New Zealand that "we are all the same and we stand together".

A vigil in London's Trafalgar Square to honour those who were killed in the Christchurch mosque shootings. Photo / Corazon Miller

Kauther Hussan, 19, a student from London was heartened to see how people of so many different faiths and cultures had gathered to pay tribute to New Zealand's Muslim community.

"I didn't expect so many people to be here - and the majority are not Muslims."

She gave credit to New Zealand and its response to the terror attack - in particular its support for the Muslim community.

"The community is supporting Muslim families and not turning it into a race thing."

She said it was important that "we all stand together".

"The most important thing to realise is terrorism and hate crimes is toward everyone. It's not religion, it's pure hate."

Kauther Hussan (left) came to pay tribute to those who had lost their lives. Photo / Corazon Miller

Fellow Londoner Qayum Mannan was another who felt compelled to do something after hearing about the mass shooting in New Zealand.

"A hateful terrorist committed an atrocity and took away 50 people's lives...It destroyed the world of 50 people's families."

But Mannan said it was important to use love, not hatred to combat such terror.

"If you create an environment where both sides are pitching against each other it's moot.

"We want people to turn to love [to combat terror]. If we don't stand against [terror] in solidarity we are going to go down a dark path."

Londoner Qayum Mannan is one of those attending the vigil in Trafalgar Square. Photo / Corazon Miller

Event spokeswoman Tania Bearsley said tonight's vigil, with members from at least 19 Kiwi groups living in London and officials from the New Zealand High Commission, was their response to the event.

She said watching the tragedy unfold had made her feel the many kilometres that separated New Zealand from the United Kingdom more keenly.

"Humanity hurts at moments like these."

But even as she felt "immense grief", Bearsley said she also felt filled with pride as she watched the nation's response to the attacks.

"There has been a great outpouring of love from New Zealand."

People hold signs at the vigil in London. Photo / Corazon Miller

Bearsley said, like many Kiwis who called London home, she had lived through terror events in the United Kingdom.

She said she understood the pain many would be feeling, but could only offer her condolences to those who'd lost a loved one.

Bearsley said out of the tragedy had grown a strong sense of a connected community that they wanted to also share with Muslims on this side of the world.

"We want to show the community of Muslims who are in the UK that we are here for them."

She hoped out of the tragedy this legacy of a stronger community would continue.

"This is about humanity not just New Zealand."