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Christchurch shooting

Christchurch mosque attack sentencing: Family of youngest victim face terrorist in court

Warning: This article contains details that may disturb some people.

The family of the three-year-old boy killed in the Christchurch mosque attack say he wanted to become a police officer. 

Mucaad Ibrahim was "adored by all", his father Aden Dirye said on Wednesday. 

"He would run around dressed as a cop. We thought he would become a police officer."

As his victim statement was read during the sentencing of Brenton Tarrant, Dirye repeatedly pointed his finger straight at the terrorist.

"You killed my beloved son - I will never forgive you," he said.

He showed Newshub a book made by Mucaad's Kindergarten teachers that also showed a boy who "loved wearing a police officer's hat".

"He liked me to watch him climb and often asked me to push him on the swing," one teacher said. "He liked me to give him a cuddle and feel his haircut."

"Mucaad was a lovely sensitive boy who would stand back and watch before joining activities." 

"Many of our parents have commented on Mucaad's beautiful big eyes and cute dimples.

"I will miss his lovely big smile and gentle nature."

Mucaad's older brother Abdi took him to Friday prayers on March 15, 2019 but in the madness, they were separated. 

"Everything was going too fast," Abdi said in the aftermath of the attack. "I just thought it was fireworks and everyone was running - just started to run - and then I lost the boy."

Mucaad Ibrahim.
Mucaad Ibrahim. Photo credit: Supplied

Mucaad was killed in the most incomprehensible and evil way - shot at point blank range by Tarrant. His body was picked up by worshipper Nathan Smith.

"I held a three-year-old boy in my arms, praying that he was still alive," Smith said in his victim impact statement on Tuesday. "He was not. You took him away. He was three."

'Lovely, sensitive boy'

Diriye is a proud dad - left with the memories in his boy's "kindy book".

"I remember when he played with other children, when he played with me, with his mother," he said.  

"He enjoyed football. He liked always going to the Mosque, [Al Noor] Masjid. He prayed and read."

Christchurch mosque attack sentencing: Family of youngest victim face terrorist in court
Photo credit: File

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