NEW ZEALAND POLICE ARREST TWO FOR THREAT TO CHRISTCHURCH MOSQUES

Thu 04 March 2021:

New Zealand police say they have arrested two people following a threat made online to the Linwood

Islamic centre and Al Noor mosque, the sites of the two Christchurch shootings in 2019.

No information about the nature of the threat was supplied and neither suspect has been named. No charges have yet been laid, police said.

“Any messages of hate or people wanting to cause harm in our community will not be tolerated – it’s not the Kiwi way,” said John Price, Canterbury District Commander Superintendent in an emailed statement.

Newshub reported that armed police raided two homes after an alleged threat involving a terror attack with car bombs on the second anniversary of the mosque shootings next week.

Det Insp Michael Ford told Stuff police had acted on information from the public regarding “concerning communications on the 4chan site”.

New Zealand is heightened alert ahead of the March 15 anniversary of Christchurch attack. Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people and injured dozens more after opening fire on worshippers at the two mosques, livestreaming the attacks on Facebook before being arrested.

In August, Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison without parole, the first time New Zealand confined anyone for the rest of their life.