ISIS-inspired 'terrorist' killed after stabbing six in New Zealand, say authorities

ISIS-inspired Islamic extremist who stabbed six people in what is being called a ‘terrorist attack’ at a supermarket in Auckland, New Zealand, was shot de by police on Friday, 3 September 2021. “This afteron, a violent extremist undertook a terrorist attack on incent New Zealanders in New Lynn countdown in Auckland,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told presser. Sri Lankan national, she said, was on a terror watch list and h mand to carry out a "hateful" assault on incent civilians. terrorist on watchlist of government’s “multiple ncies” was shot de within first 60 seconds after he entered a shopping mall in suburban Auckland, seized a knife from a display, and went on a stabbing spree, Ardern said. 

neutralized assaulter was inspired by Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) terrorist group also kwn Arabic acronym Daesh that primarily operates in western Iraq and eastern Syria but has infiltrated Afghanistan after US military drawdown. According to a statement by New Zealand police on scene, attacker h been a "person of interest" since 2016 for law enforcement authorities but assailant was pursued and killed. police told Associated Press that y h been surveilling assailant around clock before he unleashed a frenzied knife assault on at least six, w critically wounded. At least three shoppers, who sustained injuries, were rushed to Auckland hospitals. Two ors, meanwhile, were in a stable condition, police said. 

[Police and ambulance staff attend a scene outside an Auckland supermarket. New Zealand authorities said Friday y shot and killed a violent extremist after he entered a supermarket and stabbed and injured several shoppers. Photo: Alex Burton/New Zealand Herald via AP]

[Alex Burton/New Zealand Herald vía AP]

PM Ardern told reporters that she h been "personally briefed on man in past but re h been legal reason for him to be detained.” H he done something that would have allowed us to put him into prison, he would have been in prison,” Ardern stressed. “It was hateful, it was wrong. It was carried out by an individual, t a faith,” New Zealand PM stressed. “He alone carries responsibility for se acts.”

gruesome terrorist attack unfolded at around 2:40 pm at a Countdown supermarket in New Zealand’s Auckland. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said a police surveillance team and a specialist tactics group that h intelligence, trailed man to supermarket discreetly. Although, Coster told reporters “y h particular reason to think he was planning an attack on Friday” as man appeared to go grocery shopping. “He entered store, as he h done before. He obtained a knife from within store,” Coster said. “Surveillance teams were as close as y possibly could be to monitor his activity.” 

“To everyone who was re and who witnessed such a horrific event, I can’t imagine how y will be feeling in aftermath,” Ardern told presser. “But thank you for coming to aid of those who needed you when y needed you.”

[New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrives at a press conference following Auckland supermarket terror attack at parliament in Wellington, New Zealand. Credit: AP]

Man chanted 'Allahu Akbar', n stabbed random people

Eyewitnesses said that  man chanted “Allahu Akbar” — meaning God is great — and n started stabbing random shoppers in vicinity as people ran and screamed in shock and fear. It was n that two police officers from New Zealand’s special tactics group ran across and launched 10 fire shots in rapid succession at man.  A woman was heard shouting, “re’s someone here with a knife … he’s got a knife, somebody got stabbed.” A guard at New Lynn supermarket hurriedly asked shoppers to run for cover and leave market. 

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said, however, stated that re are questions if officers should have reacted more quickly, and t until terrorist charged at officers with knife. police have cordoned off area and a heavy presence of officers in scene at 7 pm was witnessed by on-ground reporters. A probe was ordered into incident.

(With ncy inputs)

Im: AP