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Three years on since mosque terrorist attack

<p dir="ltr">It’s been three years since the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack that saw 51 worshippers lose their lives. </p> <p dir="ltr">Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant live streamed himself charging into Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, both in Christchurch on March 15, 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">Once inside, the 29-year-old went on a rampage and killed 51 innocent worshippers and wounded a further 40.</p> <p dir="ltr">The white supremacist pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one count of terrorism. </p> <p dir="ltr">He was sentenced to life behind bars without the possibility of parole. </p> <p dir="ltr">Three years on since the terrors that occurred, New Zealand remembers the victims of the fateful attack. </p> <p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has led tributes in parliament for all 51 shuhada - the martyrs, who lost their lives in the horrific attack. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said the events of 2019 and the Royal Commission showed that the community needed more to feel safe. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Three years on I think it still feels very raw for many. I have no doubt that will only be greater still for the community,” she said, <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/christchurch-shooting/new-zealand-marks-terror-anniversary-c-6056584" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But it’s not just for us to remember. We have obligations as ministers, as a cabinet, as a government to keep fulfilling the commitments we’ve made to the community.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Royal Commission has given us our blueprint ... we’ll continue working alongside the community to try and meet their expectations and try and help them as they honour the loss of their loved ones.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The families requested no commemorative service. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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"Visibly furious" Jacinda Ardern berates Scott Morrison in press conference

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was "visibly furious" at the Australian Morrison government, claiming that Australia did "not act in good faith". This is after an alleged ISIS terrorist travelled to Syria on an Australian passport and was detained in Turkey with her two children.</p> <p>The detained woman held dual citizenship for Australia and New Zealand, but her Australian citizenship was revoked as part of a new policy to strip dual-citizenship from terrorists.</p> <p>As the woman travelled on her Australian passport, she was detained and is now considered legally to be only a New Zealand citizen, despite not living in the country since the age of six.</p> <p>This left Ardern furious.</p> <p>“I never believe that the right response was to simply have a race to revoke people’s citizenship … We will put our hands up when we need to own the situation, we expected the same of Australia. They did not act in good faith,” Ms Ardern said on Tuesday.</p> <p>Ms Ardern said her government “firmly believe” the woman should return to Australia, and has “repeatedly communicated that view to the Australian government at the highest levels”.</p> <p>“It is wrong that New Zealand should shoulder the responsibility for a situation involving a woman who has not lived in New Zealand since she was six, has resided in Australia since that time, has her family in Australia and left for Syria from Australia on her Australian passport.</p> <p>“Any fair-minded person would consider this person an Australian and that is my view too,” Ms Ardern said.</p> <p>Ardern has said that the chief priority is the welfare of the two children.</p> <p>“These children were born in a conflict zone through no fault of their own,” Ms Ardern said.</p> <p>“Coming to New Zealand, where they have no immediate family, would not be in their best interests. We know that young children thrive best when surrounded by people who love them. We will be raising these points with the Australian Government.</p> <p>“We will be engaging with the Turkish authorities, and given there are children involved, their welfare will be top of mind in our response.”</p> <p>When Mr Morrison was asked about New Zealand's response, he said that it was his job to put "Australia's national security interests first".</p> <p>He also pointed out that as a part of the legislation, citizenship can be cancelled "automatically and that has been a known part of Australia's law for some time".</p> <p>“There is still a lot more unknown about this case and where it sits and where it may go next,” Mr Morrison added.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

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Teen who plotted ANZAC Day terrorist attack may walk free

<div> <div class="reply-list-component"> <div class="reply-component"> <div class="reply-body-component"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply-body-wrapper"> <div class="reply-body-inner"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist may walk free from prison after he plotted the murder of Australian police officers during ANZAC Day proceedings.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p><span>The 20-year-old man is from Blackburn, Lancashire and is identified only as RXG. He was convicted of sending and Australian jihadist to launch attacks against police during Melbourne’s Anzac Day commemorations in 2015.</span><br /><br /><span>He was 14 at the time of the offence and was handed a life sentence in October 2015 after he admitted to inciting another person to commit an act of terrorism overseas.</span><br /><br /><span>On Monday, the Parole Board for England and Wales ruled that RXG was suitable for release after a hearing in September and another this month.</span><br /><br /><span>“After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in detention and the evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was satisfied that RXG was suitable for release,” the document detailing the Parole Board’s decision read.</span><br /><br /><span>The panel said it would only permit his release “if it was satisfied that it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that RXG remained confined in prison”.</span><br /><br /><span>His Australian accomplice, Sevdet Besim, 19, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2016.</span><br /><br /><span>He was also given a non-parole period of seven years and six months.</span><br /><br /><span>He pleaded guilty to one count of planning for a terrorist act in the Victorian Supreme Court.</span></p>

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Second victim in London Bridge attack named

<p>Saskia Jones, who was described as a “funny, kind and positive influence” has been named as the second victim of Friday’s London Bridge terror attack.</p> <p>The 23-year-old former Cambridge University graduate had only just applied to the police’s graduate scheme, with the intention to specialise in victim support, when her life was brutally stolen from her.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iw2h9lqCY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iw2h9lqCY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kushal Roy (@unapologetickushal)</a> on Dec 1, 2019 at 12:26pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In a heartbroken statement, her family said her loss would leave a huge void in the lives of everyone she had met.</p> <p>“Saskia was a funny, kind, positive influence at the centre of many people’s lives,” they said.</p> <p>“She had a wonderful sense of mischievous fun and was generous to the point of always wanting to see the best in all people.</p> <p>“She was intent on living life to the full, and had a wonderful thirst for knowledge, enabling her to be the best she could be.</p> <p>“Saskia had a great passion for providing invaluable support to victims of criminal injustice, which led her to the point of recently applying for the police graduate recruitment programme, wishing to specialise in victim support."</p> <p>Miss Jones had been attending a prisoner rehabilitation initiative, when convicted terrorist Usman Khan attacked volunteers and delegates with two larges knives.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gP5uKIzMD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gP5uKIzMD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ideologiekritische Aktion (@ideologiekritische_aktion)</a> on Nov 30, 2019 at 1:00pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She died alongside another Cambridge graduate, Jack Merritt, who was as equally committed to helping others ­ specifically prisoners’ who wanted to turn their lives around.</p> <p>Khan was released from prison last year after serving eight years of a 16-year sentence for plotting to blow up the London Stock Exchange and other targets.</p> <p>He had been invited to attend the event to discuss his experiences, however, began stabbing at least five people and fatally wounding Miss Jones and Mr Merritt.</p> <p>Director of the Institute of Criminology, at Cambridge Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe, shared a heartfelt statement about her former student.</p> <p>"Saskia's warm disposition and extraordinary intellectual creativity was combined with a strong belief that people who have committed criminal offences should have opportunities for rehabilitation,” she said.</p> <p>"Though she completed her MPhil in Criminology in 2018, her determination to make an enduring and positive impact on society in everything she did led her to stay in contact with the Learning Together community. </p> <p>"They valued her contributions enormously and were inspired by her determination to push towards the good."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ilhR7Jft1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ilhR7Jft1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by JD dan (@janined62)</a> on Dec 1, 2019 at 10:47am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She also made a heartfelt tribute to Mr Merritt: "All of us at the Institute will miss Jack's quiet humour and rigorous intellect. Jack's passion for social and criminal justice was infectious. He was deeply creatively and courageously engaged with the world, advocating for a politics of love. He worked tirelessly in dark places to pull towards the light."</p> <p>Just last month, Miss Jones shared a post onto her Facebook page which relayed a heartfelt sentiment about appreciating the little things in life.</p> <p>“I hope I never get tired of the night sky, of thunderstorms, of watching cream make galaxies in my coffee,” the post read.</p> <p>“This world is ugly. I hope I never grow to be someone who can no longer see the small beautiful things.”</p>

Travel Trouble

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“A disgrace”: Calls for Fraser Anning to be expelled following “Egg Boy” response

<p>In what has been a jam packed week for Fraser Anning, it only continues to build as he faces increasing pressure from all sides.</p> <p>His abrasive comments in the wake of the Christchurch shooting has not just been condemned by Australia’s very own Prime Minister, Scott Morrison and New Zealand’s Jacinda Arden – it has caused fury online as well as internationally.</p> <p>The senator is now facing an unprecedented tide of public backlash that has seen over one million signatures on an online petition to see him kicked out of parliament.</p> <p>The online petition has become the largest in Australian history, far eclipsing the Sydney Opera House horse racing advertising backlash last year. The creator of the appeal has only one demand – to remove Anning from his position in parliament.</p> <p>“Senator Fraser Anning’s views have no place in the government of our democratic and multicultural country,” the petition reads.</p> <p>“Within the bounds of Australian law, we request that he be pushed to resign from his position as Senator, and if appropriate, be investigated by law enforcement agencies for supporting right wing terrorism.”</p> <p>It points to the Queensland politicians’ divisive comments made just moments after the horrific attack which killed 50 Muslim people. His statements lashed against the Christchurch terrorist mass shooting victims on Friday.  </p> <p>“Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?” Anning tweeted shortly after 50 innocent Muslims were shot dead in their place of worship.</p> <p>“The real cause of the bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place,” he said in a later statement.</p> <p>Since then, the extreme far-right politician has seen the public in all its fury, even being ambushed by a 17-year-old Australian boy, Will Connolly – who cracked a raw egg over his head on Saturday.</p> <p>Anning, who was answering media questions at Melbourne airport responded by promptly slapping the teenage boy twice over the head.</p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the senator should be charged.</p> <p>“The full force of the law should be applied to Senator Anning.” he told reporters.</p> <p>Victorian police have since released a statement, explaining Anning “retaliated and struck the teen twice” before Mr Connolly was dragged to the ground by supporters</p> <p>“The incident is being actively investigated by Victoria Police in its entirety,” the statement read.</p> <p>Greens leader Richard Di Natale told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/greens-want-senator-fraser-anning-expelled/news-story/7268a950f52a3068d2924e5192616ac2" target="_blank">The Australian</a> </em>the party is looking to expel him from federal parliament.</p> <p>“We are exploring all options, including amending section 8 of the Privileges Act to allow members of parliament to be expelled by their fellow MPs.</p> <p>“While politicians should be held responsible for their actions by the voters, in extraordinary circumstances like these where there is a pattern of behaviour that is so far outside acceptable norms, we must be willing to take extraordinary action to protect the community.”</p> <p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has also publicly condemned Anning.</p> <p>When asked by a journalist what she thought of the comments the politician made, she replied: “They’re a disgrace.”</p> <p>A GoFundMe page set up to raise AUD$2000 to pay for Mr Connolly’s “legal fees” and “more eggs” has exceeded over AUD$25,000 on Sunday.</p> <p>The site says most of the money will go to the victims of Christchurch mass shooting.</p> <p>After being released from police custody due to slamming a raw egg onto the head of Anning, the teen urged viewers to not follow in his lead.</p> <p>“Don’t egg politicians. You get tackled by 30 bogans at the same time,” he said in a video. “I learnt the hard way.”</p>

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The chilling reason you should never book a hotel room on the first floor

<p>A former CIA agent has warned the worst room you can book in a hotel is either on the ground floor or top floor.</p> <p>With the number of terror attacks on tourists on the rise, Drew Dwyer, a marine corps veteran and former CIA agent, has shared a number of tips to travel safely on US military news site <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://sofrep.com/49889/traveling-overseas-guidance-cia-operative/">Sofrep.com</a>.</strong></span></p> <p>He advised holidaymakers to request a room that is neither on the ground floor nor top floor.</p> <p>“The ground floor is readily accessible to intruders and the top floor does not allow any manoeuvre room,” he said.</p> <p>“The first or second floors allow access for most third-world country emergency vehicles.”</p> <p>Dwyer also advised guests study the fire escape plan, usually found on the backs of hotel room doors, as soon as they check in.</p> <p>And in case of an emergency, he said to keep an escape bag packed at all times.</p> <p>“Keep a small ‘bug-out bag’ packed with must-have items (money, ID, passport, etc) in the event of an emergency departure,” he said.</p> <p>Many popular holiday destinations like France, Turkey and Egypt have been classed a high terror risks, but it hasn’t stopped travellers flocking there in droves.</p>

Travel Tips

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“Run, tell, hide”: UK police release video on what to do in a terrorist attack

<p>It looks like a trailer for a Hollywood film about terrorism. </p> <p>Shots of happy families relaxing poolside at a sunny resort give way to a close-up of a woman's panicked face as she hears gunfire and turns to run.  Families start fleeing as a woman shouts "we have to get out of here now!"</p> <p>It's clear from the outset that, while the footage may be fictional, no suspension of disbelief is required. This could happen to you. And, if it does, you had better be prepared. </p> <p>The British Government's four-minute film advising people what to do in the event of a terror attack overseas is deliberately confrontational.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f_VrwYJawxc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Parents pick up their children and run as the shots continue to resound, a woman narrowly avoids running into a stream of bullets, a hotel staff member is forced to barricade himself in the laundry room, a woman lies face down and motionless on the patio... </p> <p>"If you hear gunshots, think about your safest option," the voiceover says to the tune of dramatic background music. "If there is a safe route, run. This is the best option."</p> <p>The video pushes the "run, hide, tell" message that was relayed to the British public after a gunman opened fire on a Tunisian beach resort in June 2015, killing 38 people, including 30 British tourists. </p> <p>And it pulls no punches with its advice. Insist others run with you, but don't let their indecision slow you down. Make sure your route doesn't put you in the line of fire. Try not to get trapped. The police may be unable to distinguish between you and an attacker. </p> <p>In the wake of the recent terror attacks in the UK, it's no surprise that the government is on heightened alert to any future assaults and wants to keep its citizens safe, whether they are at home or abroad. Firearms and weapons attacks "are thankfully rare", the video voiceover states, but "being prepared and knowing how to respond is important and may save lives".   </p> <p>Which is why, I would argue, that the video is important. It may have all the characteristics of a good Hollywood thriller - action, suspense, a pulse-racing soundtrack - but it's depicting a scenario that many have been caught up in in real life. And many more caught be caught up in in future. </p> <p>Can you be too overdramatic when you're trying to convince people they need to know how to handle such an extreme situation?  </p> <p>More sensitive souls - or children - may find the video disturbing, or even upsetting, but it's important they know what to do in the event of a terror attack. Sometimes a bit of fearmongering is what's needed to get people to sit up, take notice and take something seriously. </p> <p>While we in New Zealand can sometimes feel remote from the major terror attacks, we shouldn't give in to a false sense of security.</p> <p>There are the many Kiwis who travel to countries which have been victim to terrorist attacks: the UK, France, Bali, Turkey... The list goes on. </p> <p>The New Zealand government would be wise, I would suggest, to create a similar video for Kiwis, showing us exactly how we should react if we find ourselves under terrorist fire on our own shores or on holiday. </p> <p>After the terror attack in London's Westminster in March, Massey University teaching fellow John Battersby warned that a similar-style "leaderless" attack could very well happen here. </p> <p>"Anyone who is inspired enough, for any cause, could use this tactic, and we need to think how we would deal with that if it would happen," he said.</p> <p>"Our society is different, we are a lot further away, and we are often not directly affected, and I wouldn't want people to over-react. But on the other hand we need to think about the fact there is a certain tactic which is becoming a preferred method to deliver terror. As it was in Nice and Berlin, the technology used is unsophisticated and you may not see it coming."</p> <p><em>Written by Lorna Thornber. First appeared on <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/">Stuff.co.nz.</a> </strong></span></em></p>

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