New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday said that Friday’s terrorist attack in Auckland was carried out by an individual and not ‘a faith.’ Her statement came after cops in Auckland killed the unnamed terrorist.
Ardern said, “What happened today was despicable, it was hateful it was wrong…It was carried out by an individual, not a faith.
“This was someone who was known to our national security agencies and was of concern and was being monitored constantly,”
A Sri Lankan national, who was already under police surveillance, stabbed and seriously wounded six people at a shopping mall in Auckland. Three victims are believed to be in a critical condition with one of them being in a serious condition.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff told the BBC, “The hospital staff are doing everything they can to preserve their lives.” He added, “We’re all horrified by what’s happened. But… justice came pretty swiftly for the offender.”
A report by Sky News said that the Sri Lankan national had first drawn the cops’ attention in 2016 after he posted ‘staunchly anti-Western and violent’ material on his Facebook page.
The report added that a court in New Zealand had tried to prosecute him last year but a high court judge ruled merely preparing a terr attack itself was not an offence under the country’s legislation. However, the New Zealand parliament passed a Bill in May this year making this an offence.
According to New Zealand Herald, the Auckland terrorist was found guilty of possessing propaganda-style material supportive of the so-called Islamic State in July this year.
He was sentenced to one year of supervision to be served at West Auckland mosque. He was banned from using any internet-cabled devices without the prior approval of a probation officer. Cops were given the power to check his device and his activities on social media.