White supremacist Philip Arps released from prison, banned from contact with Muslims

White supremacist Philip Arps has been released from prison following his sentence for sharing the mosque attack live stream.

The Christchurch businessman sent the video footage of the mosque shootings to 30 associates and asked for it to be modified with crosshairs and a kill count.

He was sentenced to 21 months in prison in June 2019.

Judge Stephen O'Driscoll imposed five new conditions on him.

  1. He must wear a GPS electronic monitor
  2. Access must be provided to his residence so his electronic monitoring equipment can be maintained
  3. He can't enter or loiter near any mosque, prayer room or any other area where the Muslim community meet
  4. No contact or association is to be made with any member of the Muslim community
  5. He can't own firearms or be involved in any activity with them, including Airsoft

Fifty-one people lost their lives in the attack on two mosques, which was live streamed on Facebook.

At Arps' sentencing in June, Judge O'Driscoll told the Christchurch District Court that distributing the video the day after the attack demonstrated "particular cruelty and callousness".

"I don't see any indication of remorse on your part," Judge O'Driscoll said.

He said the prospect of rehabilitation or Arps changing his views on religion or race was virtually non-existent.