Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has revealed more details of what happened at an Auckland supermarket, while the Prime Minister has outlined the terrorist’s criminal history.

Seven people were injured and three are in hospital in a critical condition. The others have been treated and are now recovering at home.

On Friday afternoon at about 2.30 pm a man with extreme ideology entered a Countdown supermarket in New Lynn. The surveillance team following the terrorist were waiting outside the supermarket when the attack began.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said there was nothing unusual about the terrorist’s routine as he travelled by train to the supermarket.

“In fact some of his actions yesterday suggested that he was planning for the future.”

“He arrived at the supermarket, about 2:27 pm, and the surveillance team following him and observed him take a shopping trolley and start shopping.”

He was shopping normally for about 10 minutes before the attack started and from a review of in-store CCTV footage, we are establishing a timeline of events.

“It was about 60 seconds from the time our people became aware of a commotion when they engage the team that in shot him.”

Commissioner Coster said “as I’ve said previously, long-term surveillance of surveillance conscious subject is very difficult, surveillance teams must work hard not to be recognised. Otherwise, the surveillance becomes ineffective. We need to be clear, surveillance is different from a security detail. These are highly-trained specialists who follow international best practice for their trade-craft. They are very good at what they do. Over a period of time, the subject has demonstrated a high level of paranoia about surveillance activity.”

Commissioner Coster said “you’ll also appreciate that supermarkets are not operating normally at present, and the level four lockdown conditions, other people and proximity to the subject are much more conspicuous, and the risk of compromise is greatly increased.”

Prime Minister outlines terrorist’s criminal past

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said “the individual who committed yesterday’s attack arrived in New Zealand in October 2011.  He was 22 years old and travelling on a student visa. It was not known that he held extreme views about violence and terrorism at that time.

 In 2016 he came to the attention of the police after he expressed sympathy on Facebook for recent terrorist attacks, violent war-related videos and comments advocating violent extremism.  He was spoken to by the Police twice, once in April of 2016, and then again in May. 

 This activity online continued though and in May of 2017 he was arrested at Auckland International Airport. Police believed at that time he was heading to Syria. 

 A search of his apartment led them to discover restricted publications and a hunting knife. He was charged with possessing these things.  He eventually pleaded guilty to charges of knowingly distributing restricted publications, fraud and failing to assist Police in the execution of their search powers.  He was released on bail. 

 In August 2018, whilst on bail, the individual bought a knife.  The police arrested him again but also issued a search warrant and found objectionable or extremist, material.  He was charged with additional charges of possessing objectionable material, possession of an offensive weapon and failing to assist the Police in exercising search powers.  He was kept in custody. 

 In September 2018, the terrorist was sentenced to 12 months supervision in relation to the first set of charges. He remained in prison due to the additional charges he committed while on bail.

 In September of 2018, Ministers directed officials to undertake further policy work on counter terrorism legislation.  Work progressed throughout 2019. This included policy work to criminalise preparatory acts which might be related to a terrorist intent or plan. 

 In July of 2020, the Crown made an unsuccessful attempt to lay an additional charge under the existing Terrorism Suppression Act for the knife and online posts, but this was rejected by the High Court. The original criminal charges of unlawfully possessing these items were still valid though, and so throughout this period he was remanded in custody, awaiting sentencing. 

 You may also be aware that during this time he assaulted corrections officers, and faced charges on these acts also.  

In the meantime, work on changing the law to add an offence of committing a preparatory act progressed, and a draft bill was introduced in Parliament in April 2021. It had its first reading in May.

 Throughout this period, officials met a number of times to consider what avenues could be pursued to address the risk posed by this individual, and to prepare for the potential that we may run out of legal avenues to detain him. 

 “I was briefed on this work in May 2021.  I sought further advice on whether prevention orders could be used, and whether the individual had been psychologically assessed.  I was later advised that prevention orders could not be used, that he had refused psychological assessment.”

 At this time work around his immigration status was also underway, but this is detail I hope to be able to share tomorrow.

 In May 2021, he was convicted in the High Court on the charges of possession of objectionable publications with knowledge and failing to assist the Police in exercising search powers. He was found not guilty of another charge of possessing objectionable material, and of the charge of possessing a knife in a public place. 

 On 6th July, he was sentenced to 12 months supervision with special conditions. These conditions included that he must reside at the named address, could only possess an electronic device capable of accessing the internet, other than that approved by his probation officer. He was also required, upon request, to make available any electronic device to the probation officer for the purpose of checking or cloning the device, and to disclose to his probation officer and provide access to all social media accounts. He was also required to attend rehabilitation assessment and treatment. 

 GPS monitoring was sought by the Crown, but this was not imposed by the courts.

 At the time of sentencing, the individual had spent approximately three years in prison on remand.  He remained in custody, but given all legal avenues to continue his detention had been exhausted, officials prepared for his release. 

 Risk mitigations were already underway. This included police standing up surveillance coverage, including the use of the armed Special Tactics Group. This is the group who were present yesterday at the scene, and shot the terrorist.

 Police also worked alongside the NZSIS.  Corrections also advised that he would be reporting to the New Lynn Service centre, where there would be a police presence.

 Prior to his release, police identified that he could be arrested without a warrant for breach of his conditions, and that there were other trigger points which would allow him to be arrested, including  committing, or threatening to commit a violent act, acquiring weapons or consuming objectionable material.

  In mid-July, the individual was released into the community, and the surveillance began immediately. 

 In late July I was given a written update on the case.

 On the 9th of August I met with officials and discussed further options to reduce the risk this person posed to the community.   

 In late August officials, including the Commissioner of Police, raised the possibility of expediting the amendments to the counter terrorism legislation. 

 Within 48 hours of these discussions, the Minister of Justice contacted the Chair of the Select Committee with the intention of speeding that law change up.  That was yesterday, the same day the attack happened. 

 “As you can see, agencies used every tool available to them to protect innocent people from this individual. “

 But we owe it to everyone to have other people look at the facts of this case too, to analyse them, to see what was done, and what more could have been done. The IPCA and the coroner will be an important part of this work.

 But we must also look forward, and as we have always done, we must be willing to make the changes that we know may not necessarily have changed history, but could change the future. 

 We already have changes to the terrorism suppression laws under way. With the Departmental Report just being reported back to the Select Committee.  That means the public have had their say, and now Parliament must act. 

 “I am committing, that as soon as Parliament resumes we will complete that work – that means working to pass the law as soon as possible, and no later than by the end of this month. “

“I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for reaching out to offer her support for this course of action.”

“There is one additional piece of work that I instigated in August which is relevant to this case. Unfortunately, it requires the suppression order to be lifted so I will provide an update when that occurs. “

“To finish today, I have two final things I want to say.”

“The first is to the New Zealand Police. You were tireless. I am told at times you had up to 30 people involved in monitoring this person.  I wanted to acknowledge the work you did leading up to this event, and the work you do generally, to keep us all safe.”

 I also want to acknowledge those who responded at the scene. Thank you. 

 And to the Auckland community, times are tough, and I know you’ll be feeling it. We are all with you. 

 And the last thought I will leave is from the Imam of Al Noor mosque, who knows the impact of terrorism better than anyone. He said, “all terrorists are the same, regardless of their ideology…..they stand for hate, we stand for peace and love.”  

 We have it within our powers to ensure that the actions of an individual do not create a knock on of hate, judgment and vitriol.  

 I know New Zealand you will be kind, please wrap your arms around all of our victims.  

 Those of yesterday, and those of the past.