Five injured, man shot dead in New Zealand terror attack

New Zealand authorities say a man shot dead after a stabbing spree in an Auckland shopping mall on Friday was an ISIS supporter.

Police said the man entered a New Lynn supermarket and injured multiple people. He was shot by police and died at the scene.

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Sri Lankan national had been a person of national security interest since 2016. She added that his ideology was ISIS-inspired, but that he acted as a “lone-wolf”.

“What happened today was despicable,” she said. “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 was gripped by ideology that is not supported here by anyone or any community.

“The detailed reasons he is known to the agencies as the subject of suppression orders made by the court. In my view, it is in the public interest to hear as much as we can, in this case, I’m seeking advice on what we can do to facilitate that sharing of information as soon as possible.”

The New Zealand Herald reported that at least one person had suffered stab wounds, while St John Ambulance confirmed to RNZ that two people had been taken to hospital in critical condition and two people were in hospital in moderate condition. At least 10 police cars as well as ambulances were at the scene.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police have no reason to believe there is any ongoing risk to the public.