At least 06 people have been injured after a man went on a stabbing spree at a supermarket in New Zealand’s capital, before police shot him dead on Friday (03 Sep).
“What happened today was despicable, it was hateful, it was wrong,” she said on Friday, describing the attacker as a Sri Lankan national who arrived in New Zealand in 2011.
The man, known to the government’s “multiple agencies”, was killed within 60 seconds after the beginning of the attack, she said, adding that he had been inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group.
“It was hateful, it was wrong. It was carried out by an individual, not a faith,” Ardern said. “He alone carries the responsibility for these acts.”
She said the man, whose identity cannot be revealed due to suppression orders, and was a person of interest for national security since 2016.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said authorities were confident the man was acting alone and there was no further danger to the community.
“The reality is, that when you are surveilling someone on a 24/7 basis, it is not possible to be immediately next to them at all times. The staff intervened as quickly as they could and they prevented further injury in what was a terrifying situation,” said Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.
Source: News Agencies
