Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah (born 1974 (age 50)) is an Afghan-born New Zealand man who was lauded as a hero for his actions during the Christchurch mosque shootings on 15 March 2019. He confronted the terrorist Brenton Tarrant outside the Linwood Islamic Centre, chasing him away and potentially saving lives. For his bravery, he was awarded the New Zealand Cross in 2021.
Early life and family
Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah was born in 1974 (age 50)[1] in Afghanistan. He left the country with his parents as a refugee when he was a child,[2] and subsequently lived in Australia for 27 years.[3][4] In March 2019 he and his family had lived in Christchurch for two years, where he owned a second-hand furniture store.[2]