YouTuber PewDiePie has responded to reports that a gunman involved in the New Zealand shootings made a reference to his name.
In a video thought to be a live-stream, it has been reported that the gunman told people to 'subscribe' to PewDiePie, before entering the mosque and opening fire.
While officials are yet to confirm exactly what happened or verify the footage, PewDiePie - whose real name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg - has issued a statement via Twitter condemning the attack.
Tweeting his condolences to the victims, the vlogger wrote: "Just heard news of the devastating reports from New Zealand Christchurch. I feel absolutely sickened having my name uttered by this person.
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"My heart and thoughts go out to the victims, families and everyone affected by this tragedy."
Forty-nine people have been killed and a further 20 injured in the shootings, which took place at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Four people - three men and one woman - have been detained in connection to the incident.
The gunman, who had Australian citizenship, has been described as an 'extremist, right-wing' terrorist by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern referred to the attack as one of their country's 'darkest days'.
"We New Zealanders were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone this racism, or because we are an enclave of extremism, we were chosen for the very fact that we are none of these things," she said.
"I want to send a message to those directly affected... For many this may have not been the place they were born. For many New Zealand was their choice, a place they actively came to and committed themselves to... It was a place where many came to for their safety. A place where it was safe to practice their culture and religion.
"We represent diversity and compassion, a home for those who share our values, a refuge for those who need it. And those values will not and can not be shaken by this attack. We are a proud nation of more than 200 ethnicities and 160 languages.
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"[This is] the strongest possible condemnation of the ideology of the people who did this."
She has also confirmed that none of the people arrested were on terror watchlists. As a result of the attack, she has upgraded the country's terror threat level from low to high.
Ardern added: "This is not who we are. This act was not a reflection of who we are as a nation. It will take time to heal and tonight our thoughts and our prayers need to be with those affected."
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Police Commissioner Mike Bush said there could be more suspects involved in this attack.
"We are currently dealing with an unprecedented situation in New Zealand. It's very grave, it's very serious," he told reporters.
"This is absolutely tragic. There will be so many people affected. As you can imagine, this is requiring every police and emergency resource we have available."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: New Zealand, News