Brain-damaged Christchurch shooting victim, five, 'cannot speak'
Wasseim Alsati says the gunman pointed his weapon at his daughter's head and shot her - before he was also hurt in the attack.
Monday 15 April 2019 22:58, UK
A father-of-four injured in the Christchurch shootings has posted pictures of his five year-old daughter who was left brain damaged after she was also shot.
Wasseim Alsati was approaching the Al Noor mosque with Alen, his youngest daughter, when alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant walked out and shot them both.
Mr Alsati told Daily Mail Australia the attacker, who appeared to be wearing a New Zealand military uniform, pointed his weapon at his daughter's head and shot her despite his attempts to protect her.
"And then the second bullet, he shot her in the foot, in the toes. And then I got a shot in my tummy. And then I got two shots in my bum."
Despite multiple operations, doctors at the Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland are still unsure of the extent of Alen's brain injuries.
Mr Alsati, who owns a barber shop in the southern New Zealand city, shared images of his young daughter in hospital surrounded by family and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
A page, which has raised more than $47,000 (£24,000) for the family, said "Wassiem is recovering from gunshot wounds in his hip area. He is not currently walking but is expecting to walk again when fully recovered.
"Alen has suffered damage to the brain, she is making daily progress, but at this stage she cannot speak or see people. She has begun so say the odd word and recognises her mother's voice."
It asks for donations "for supporting the family in future if Wassiem is out of work, or if they have to pay money for on-going nursing and medical care for Alen".
Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, has been charged with 50 counts of murder after last month's terror attack.
A month on from the massacre, Mr Alsati, a Muslim, said: "I don't feel anything about him shooting me, I am really angry that he shot my daughter."
"I understand the hate against Islam, Muslims. But that doesn't give anybody the right to shoot kids."
In a video posted on Facebook, Mr Alsati said it will be "six months to know how bad the damage [to his daughter Alen] is".
Speaking from his hospital bed, he broke down as he said: "My daughter woke up and she doesn't know us and she can't see us and hear us at all. I don't know if she is cold or warm.
"We are all waiting. Alen woke up five days ago. She had seven or eight surgeries," he added.