Self-confessed terrorist Brenton Tarrant ‘beefed up’ for mosque massacre

Self-confessed terrorist Brenton Tarrant had been deadlifting weights of up to 200kg in a gym opposite an Islamic school and childcare centre in the lead-up to the horrific Christchurch massacre that killed 50 and left dozens more injured.

Dr Mohammad Alayan, the owner of the centre situated just across the road from where Tarrant trained, was critically injured in the shooting at the Al Noor Mosque on Friday.

His son, Atta Elayyan, was shot and killed by the alleged gunman, who had compulsively attended the Anytime Fitness gym where the treadmills overlooked the centre his father owned.

Adam, who attended the same gym as Tarrant said he initially believed the 28-year-old was a powerlifter, and claimed he had 'beefed up really quickly' in the lead up to the attack. 

'[Tarrant] did mostly strength training, like deadlifts, like powerlifting – the massive ones. He's a strong man,' he said. 

'He was probably doing 140 kilos on the bench, which is quite a lot, and 200kg deadlifts.'

Tarrant did not say much at the gym, he said, except to ask him how he was doing, and to talk about his own travels.

'He'd just tell me about all these holidays he'd been on, Europe, France and all that, he'd ask me how my Christmas was – he was real polite,' Adam said.

Neighbours said Tarrant had become noticeably more muscular in the months leading up to the shooting of Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, and Adam readily agreed before suggesting he may have trained using steroids or other supplements.

'There's always the chance he's unnaturally training,' he said. 'If he's been travelling a lot it's definitely easy to get.'

Tarrant allegedly live-streamed himself walking into Al Noor

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