In the wake of mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques, Muslims in the Hudson Valley were leaning on each other and those of other faiths on Friday.

Hours after dozens of worshippers were killed in New Zealand, Muslims in Mount Vernon poured into the Westchester Muslim Center for afternoon prayers. There was an increased police presence there on Friday.

There were also more security volunteers than usual, according to Syed Alirahi, the principal of the Islamic school at the center. Alirahi says surveillance cameras are also in use. No large packages or bookbags are allowed inside the mosque.