The New Zealand Government is asking social media users around the world to delete and not to share a video that was live streamed by a gunman as he murdered dozens of people yesterday at a mosque in Christchurch. Forty-nine victims are confirmed to have died in the racially motivated attack.

"I just ask people - don't share them", New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated in a speech yesterday.

"We should not be perpetuating, sharing, giving any oxygen to this act of violence and the message that sat behind it...We should not share, spread, or actively engage in that message of hate", she added.

Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter are working to remove the video from their platforms, and users are being asked to respect the families of the victims.

The disturbing video was live streamed on social media by the gunman as he entered Al Noor mosque, shooting all of his victims in sight including women and children. It was confirmed today, that a five-year-child is in critical condition.

In an official tweet, New Zealand Police stated, “Police are aware there is extremely distressing footage relating to the incident in Christchurch circulating online. We would strongly urge that the link not be shared. We are working to have any footage removed.”