WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand authorities said Friday they shot and killed a violent extremist after he entered a supermarket and stabbed and injured six shoppers.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the incident as a terrorist attack. He said the man was of Sri Lankan nationality and was inspired by the Islamic State group. He said he was well known to the nation’s security agencies and was being monitored all day.
He said that, by law, the man could not be kept in jail.
Ardern said three of those who had been stabbed were seriously injured.
“It was a violent attack. It didn’t make sense, “Ardern said. “And I’m very sorry it happened.”
The attack took place around half past nine in the afternoon at a Countdown supermarket in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland.
Ardern said as the man was under constant control, a police surveillance team and a group of special tactics were able to shoot and kill him within 60 seconds of the start of the attack.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said they had concerns about the man’s ideology and kept him very close. Coster said they followed him from his home to the supermarket on Friday.
“He went into the store, as he had done before. He got a knife from the store, ”Coster said. “Surveillance teams were as close as they could be to monitoring their activity.”
Coster said when the commotion began, two police officers from the special tactics group rushed. He said the man approached police with a knife and was shot dead.
A video of the viewer taken from inside the supermarket records the sound of 10 shots fired quickly.
Ardern said legal restrictions prevented him from discussing anything he wanted about the case, but he hoped the limitations would be lifted soon.
Some grocery shoppers allegedly tried to help the injured with towels and diapers.
“For everyone who was there and witnessed such a horrible event, I can’t imagine how they will feel afterwards,” Ardern said. “But thank you for helping those who needed you when they needed you.”
Auckland is currently in a tight blockade as it fights a coronavirus outbreak. Most businesses are closed and are generally allowed to leave home just to buy groceries, for medical needs or to exercise.