New Zealand mosque shooter charged with terrorism | World Defense

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Accused New Zealand mosque shooter charged with terrorism
By NICK PERRY
21 May 2019

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FILE - In this March 23, 2019 file photo, worshippers prepare to enter the Al Noor mosque following the previous week's mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand police on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, filed a terrorism charge against the man accused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police on Tuesday filed a terrorism charge against the man accused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques.
Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, was already facing murder and attempted murder charges from the March 15 shootings.

The new charge comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction and will be a test case for New Zealand’s terrorism law, which came onto the books in 2002 following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.

The New Zealand law defines terrorism as including acts that are carried out to advance an ideological, political, or religious cause with the intention of inducing terror in a civilian population.

Just before the attacks, Tarrant emailed New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and others a manifesto outlining his white supremacist beliefs and his detailed plans for the shootings.

From the outset, Ardern has described the attacks as terrorism.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement they wouldn’t be commenting on the new charges as the case was before the courts.

A judge last month ordered that Tarrant undergo mental health assessments to determine if he’s fit to stand trial.

His next court hearing has been scheduled for June 14, and the mental health findings could determine whether he is required to enter a plea at that point.

Police also said Tuesday they had charged Tarrant with an additional count of murder, bringing the total number of murder charges against him to 51. That came after a Turkish man who was wounded in the attack died earlier this month in Christchurch Hospital.

Police also increased the number of attempted murder charges against Tarrant from 39 to 40.

Aside from those who died, at least 47 other people were treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds. Some had minor injuries and were discharged within hours.

Police told family members and attack survivors of the new charges at a private meeting attended by more than 200 people.

During the attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and two died later in hospitals.

 

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New Zealand man jailed for sharing video of mass shooting: media
June 18, 2019
Updated an hour ago
View attachment 8207
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A New Zealand man was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Tuesday for distributing videos of a massacre at two mosques in the city of Christchurch, media reported.

The lone gunman who killed 51 people in New Zealand’s worst peace-time mass shooting on March 15 broadcast the massacre live on Facebook.
Radio New Zealand said Philip Arps, 44, pleaded guilty to two charges of distributing objectionable material after sharing copies of the livestreamed video with about 30 people.

Arps also shared a video that was modified to add cross-hairs and a body count to the images of the massacre, the broadcaster said.
Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen O’Driscoll said that when Arps was asked for his opinion of the video, he replied it was “awesome”, Radio New Zealand said.

“It is clear from all the material before me that you have strong and unrepentant views towards the Muslim community,” it quoted O’Driscoll as saying during the sentencing.

New Zealand’s government has outlawed the sharing of videos of the massacre, which is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

A self-described white supremacist, Arps was charged with “offensive behavior” and fined NZ$800 ($543) in 2016 after he delivered a bloodied pig’s head to Al Noor mosque, according to court documents.

The mosque was among the two targeted in the March massacre.

Last week, Australian Brenton Tarrant pleaded not guilty to 92 charges stemming from the massacre in the two mosques and will stand trial in May next year.

Reporting by Praveen Menon; editing by Darren Schuettler

 

Khafee

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New Zealand man jailed for sharing video of mass shooting: media
June 18, 2019
Updated an hour ago
View attachment 8207
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A New Zealand man was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Tuesday for distributing videos of a massacre at two mosques in the city of Christchurch, media reported.

The lone gunman who killed 51 people in New Zealand’s worst peace-time mass shooting on March 15 broadcast the massacre live on Facebook.
Radio New Zealand said Philip Arps, 44, pleaded guilty to two charges of distributing objectionable material after sharing copies of the livestreamed video with about 30 people.

Arps also shared a video that was modified to add cross-hairs and a body count to the images of the massacre, the broadcaster said.
Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen O’Driscoll said that when Arps was asked for his opinion of the video, he replied it was “awesome”, Radio New Zealand said.

“It is clear from all the material before me that you have strong and unrepentant views towards the Muslim community,” it quoted O’Driscoll as saying during the sentencing.

New Zealand’s government has outlawed the sharing of videos of the massacre, which is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

A self-described white supremacist, Arps was charged with “offensive behavior” and fined NZ$800 ($543) in 2016 after he delivered a bloodied pig’s head to Al Noor mosque, according to court documents.

The mosque was among the two targeted in the March massacre.

Last week, Australian Brenton Tarrant pleaded not guilty to 92 charges stemming from the massacre in the two mosques and will stand trial in May next year.

Reporting by Praveen Menon; editing by Darren Schuettler

 

wairoa

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Zeeland appears to be a neutral and unbiased state.

Not likely neutral and unbiased. New Zealand military serves in almost any region where there is a war fighting Islam. They 'appear' neutral. The reality is they are not. They are always on the side of the USA, the UK and and Australia. Always.
 

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New Zealand to test 'armed response teams' after Christchurch attacks
By Clyde Hughes
OCT. 19, 2019

New-Zealand-to-test-armed-response-teams-after-Christchurch-attacks - Copy.jpg

New Zealand Police said the new ART units will enhance and support normal officers in high-risk situations. Photo courtesy New Zealand Police

Oct. 18 (UPI) -- New Zealand's national police force announced Friday a pilot program to create "armed response teams" that are designed to minimize public threats -- a response to two mosque attacks in Christchurch last spring.

Commissioner Mike Bush said the squads will have "enhanced tactical capabilities" and support regular police units in high-risk conflicts. They will be on 24-hour call for a trial period of six months.

New Zealand police officers are not armed while on general duty, but store weapons in their vehicles in case of emergency. Because normal officers must seek permission to use the weapons, the new units offer a quicker response in threatening situations, Bush said.

"The [NZP] mission is that New Zealand is the safest country," he added." Following the events of March 15 in Christchurch, our operating environment has changed.

"We are continuously reviewing our tools, training and capabilities we use to provide policing services to ensure we remain fit for purpose."

Australian Brenton Tarrant is accused of killing 51 people in the attacks. He is scheduled for trial in May.

New Zealand has already tightened gun laws and created a firearm buyback program. Officials said New Zealanders turned in 224 banned firearms in July.

"There is no immediate threat," the department said. "However, we must recognize that the environment has changed and police's capability and resourcing needs to reflect this to ensure New Zealanders feel, and are, safe.
 
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