‘Violent extremist’: Jacinda Ardern condemns Auckland supermarket attack

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described a stabbing attack at an Auckland supermarket as a “terrorist attack by a violent extremist”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has condemned an “Isis-inspired” attack at a West Auckland supermarket this afternoon, describing it as a “terrorist attack by a violent extremist” who was known to authorities.

Police confirmed this afternoon that they had shot and killed the man who stormed a New Lynn supermarket, armed with a knife, and injured at least six people, three of whom are in a critical condition.

“He’s been known to us since 2016,” Ms Ardern told reporters after a briefing. There are court suppression orders in place affecting her ability to provide some information about the attacker, a known Isis sympathiser whom police had previously arrested for allegedly planning a “lone wolf” knife attack.

“What happened today was despicable. It was hateful, it was wrong. It was carried out by an individual, not a faith, not a culture, not an ethnicity but an individual person who is gripped by ideology that is not supported here by anyone in the community.”

Ms Ardern said she was “so sorry” the attack had happened.

Jacinda Ardern has described a stabbing attack at an Auckland supermarket as a “terrorist attack by a violent extremist”. Picture: Robert Kitchin – Pool/Getty Images

Attacker was ‘Isis-inspired’

The Prime Minister said that the “Isis-inspired” 32-year-old Sri Lankan offender – known as “S” for legal reasons – arrived in New Zealand in 2011.

He was considered a threat to public safety after twice buying large hunting knives and possessing Islamic State videos, the NZ Herald reports, and had only recently been released from prison and was under constant surveillance from police and national security agencies.

Last year, the Crown had sought to prosecute S under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002, but a High Court judge ruled that preparing a terrorist attack was not in itself an offence under the legislation.

He was instead prosecuted on lesser charges, and on May 26 this year, was found by a jury to have possessed propaganda-style material supportive of Islamic State.

He was acquitted on other charges of possessing a graphic video depicting a prisoner being decapitated, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Police were following the man after he left home and walked into the New Lynn Countdown this afternoon – before he took a knife from a shelf, and carried out the attack. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Armed police patrol the area around Countdown LynnMall after a mass stabbing incident on September 03, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. A man has been shot dead by police after reportedly stabbing six people at LynnMall supermarket in Auckland. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

According to a report prepared for his sentencing in July, S had “the means and motivation to commit violence in the community”.

During his trial, he told the jury: “You’re worried about one knife, I am telling you I will buy 10 knives. It’s about my rights.”

Police were following the man after he left home and walked into the New Lynn Countdown this afternoon – before he took a knife from a shelf, and carried out the attack.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said he was “closely watched by surveillance teams and a strategic tactical team” as he travelled from his home in Glen Eden to Countdown in New Lynn this afternoon.

“The reality is when you are surveilling someone on a 24 hour basis it is not possible to be immediately next to them,” Mr Coster said.

“As the commissioner has said there was nothing to indicate that what he did today was going to happen today,” Ms Ardern said.

In the wake of the attack, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said it was frustrating that not all details about the attacker could be revealed.

“What’s frustrating for all of us who have just listened to the Prime Minister and the police commissioner, is that they were constrained from sharing all of the information that they know about this individual, because of a court order, and I understand that the Prime Minister of all people have to live under the law, and cannot go outside the law,” he told RNZ.

“But what is clear about it is that this person is an ideologically motivated terrorist...It’s appalling that he could cause so much hurt in the space of a minute, just with a knife. But I guess the police interceded as quickly as they were able and ultimately, he has paid the price of his actions.”

Witnesses describe terrifying attack

In a video posted to social media, shoppers at Countdown can be heard warning each other about “someone with a knife” inside the store, shortly before a series of gunshots rang out.

Three of those critically injured, the NZ Herald reports, have been taken to Auckland City Hospital, along with another in a serious condition. One person in a moderate condition is at Waitakere Hospital and another is at Middlemore Hospital.

In a video posted to social media, shoppers at Countdown can be heard warning each other about “someone with a knife” inside the store. Picture: Supplied

At least one person suffered a stab wound, according to the Herald, while Newstalk ZB reports two people have been shot.

One witness, a man named Tim, told Reuters he saw an elderly man lying on the ground with a stab wound to his abdomen, and a middle-aged woman who had been stabbed in the shoulder.

Another witness, Brittany Denyer, said she was about to enter the shopping centre when police officers ran up to her and told her to “hurry up and evacuate immediately”.

“People were panicking, and it was a gridlock trying to get out of New Lynn. Police and ambulances [were] everywhere,” she said.

Police guard the area around Countdown LynnMall where a “violent extremist” reportedly stabbed six people before being shot by police. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern has addressed the country describing the attack as violent and senseless. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

“I was told by another police officer while I was waiting to be diverted that someone had been stabbed.”

A pharmacy worker at Lynn Mall told RNZ they had been barricaded inside the Unichem Pharmacy, along with about 20 people who had rushed inside.

General Manager Kiri Hannifin told the Herald that the store would be closed until further notice, saying they are “devastated by what’s taken place in our Lynnmall store today”.

“Once again, our hearts are heavy knowing what our team and customers have witnessed and been through. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and their families, and we will be supporting all of our Lynnmall team,” Ms Hannifin said in a statement.

“Over the last few weeks especially, Kiwis have shown our team such gratitude and kindness and we are particularly devastated that something like this has happened again in one of our stores. It’s difficult to comprehend and the events of today leave our whole team in deep shock.”

– with NZ Herald