Woman arrested after sword attack on Jacinda Ardern’s office
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's electoral office in Auckland was damaged and staff evacuated after the front door was smashed and a sword was found lying nearby.
Emergency services arrived at the office in Morningside shortly after 8 am on Thursday, with what appeared to be a samurai sword photographed on the ground outside.
A neighbour, who wished to not be named, said he saw someone walking down the road towards the office and smashing the doors with an implement, as reported by Stuff.
He said he saw the person throw something through the hole in the door, with smoke coming from the building shortly after.
Stuff also reported receiving an email from someone claiming responsibility for the incident at 9.03am.
“At 8.20 this morning I smashed a hole in her electoral office door and dropped the bomb in [sic],” the email said.
The NZ Herald reported receiving a call to their newsroom on Thursday morning from a woman who claimed she used an interlocking sword to smash the window ten times before shoving a smoke bomb in the office.
She said she had long-standing grievances with the Prime Minister's office and government departments in relation to the "palming off" of health and living issues.
The woman also claimed she warned staff before the incident.
A journalist at the scene also reported seeing smoke and heard firefighters warning the owner of a nearby shop to not touch “the machete handle”.
Four fire trucks attended the scene and plain-clothed police were seen placing the blade into an evidence bag.
"No injuries have been reported and the building was unoccupied at the time," police said.
"A scene examination will be conducted and inquiries remain ongoing."
Prior to the attack, CCTV footage captured a person holding a long object and walking towards the office, before walking in the opposite direction a short while later without the object.
Police have since arrested a 57-year-old woman and are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.
"The woman is currently assisting Police with our inquiries into the matter and we are not currently seeking anyone else," a police spokesperson said.
Ms Ardern is currently in Antarctica for the 57th anniversary of Scott Base, and a spokesperson said the prime minister would not comment on the arrest as it is now a police matter.
Image: Stuff