Suspected new zealand mosque gunman

WELLINGTON: An unarmed New Zealand policeman was shot and killed on an Auckland street on Friday (Jun 19), becoming the first officer to die on duty for more than a decade in the normally peaceful South Pacific nation. Police said the officer and a colleague were approaching a crashed car when a gunman produced a rifle and opened fire. One officer died, another received serious leg injuries and a bystander was struck and badly hurt as the two men drove off in a second car, New Zealand's police commissioner Andrew Coster said. Following a massive manhunt a 24-year-old man was charged with several offences including murder on Friday night and is expected to face court on Saturday, Coster said. The investigation was continuing and police have not ruled out charging other people over the incident. "This is a shocking situation. It is the worst news that police and police officers' families can ever receive in the course of what we do," he said. "Our officers walk towards … [Read more...] about New Zealand shocked as policeman shot dead in rare attack

WELLINGTON: A man charged with the murder of an unarmed policeman that shocked New Zealand made a brief court appearance in Auckland on Saturday (Jun 20). Constable Matthew Hunt, 28, was gunned down during a routine traffic stop on Friday and the killing has stunned the normally peaceful country where police do not routinely carry firearms. He is the 23rd officer to be shot dead in the line of duty in New Zealand since 1890, with the previous fatal shooting more than 10 years ago. READ: New Zealand shocked as policeman shot dead in rare attack All details surrounding the identity of the 24-year-old arrested man were suppressed. He spoke briefly to confirm his name but otherwise remained silent and did not enter a plea during the brief hearing in which he was remanded in custody to reappear early next month. The man appeared via video link from another part of the courthouse due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. A 30-year-old woman has also been taken into custody … [Read more...] about Man accused of New Zealand police killing appears in court

Racing officials suspect a group of Canterbury harness racing trainers are doping their horses. Stuff earlier revealed Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) investigators watched junior driver and trainer Jesse Alford administer a substance to two horses at his stables in Woodend Beach on Thursday – two hours before they were due to take the track. Do you know more? Email [email protected] Alford cannot train or drive a horse until the RIU's investigation is complete. Investigators are awaiting test results to determine what the substance was, but believe it to be a banned performance enhancing drug. READ MORE: Horse owner stands by troubled young trainer with 'terrible addiction' Harness trainer Nigel McGrath banned for eight years over horse tubing and obstructing racecourse inspectors Prominent harness racing trainer Nigel McGrath admits charges but denies 'tubing' allegation It can also be revealed investigators are focusing on a group of trainers in … [Read more...] about Several Canterbury harness racing trainers suspected of doping horses

MELBOURNE: A far-right Australian senator had to be restrained by security officials on Saturday (Mar 16) after punching a young man protesting his offensive comments about the Christchurch mosques attack . Queensland Senator Fraser Anning drew international condemnation for his efforts to blame the attack that killed 49 Muslim worshippers on immigration. READ: New Zealand mosques attack suspect charged with murder READ: 'It's taking too long’ - Anxious families await news of missing loved ones caught in Christchurch attack Amid the controversy, an unnamed young man threw an egg at Anning during a press conference in Melbourne, prompting the senator to hit him in the face repeatedly before being stopped by what appeared to be a security guard. In a statement on Friday, Anning had said the attack which killed 49 Muslim worshippers in the southern New Zealand city was the result of Muslim immigration into the country. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described … [Read more...] about Australian senator Fraser Anning egged after racist comments on Christchurch shootings

SYDNEY: A Britain-based neo-Nazi outfit will become the first far-right organisation to be listed as a terror group in Australia, authorities said on Tuesday (Mar 2), after growing warnings from security services. The Department of Home Affairs signalled that the Sonnenkrieg Division would join the current list of 27 proscribed organisations, which have so far been exclusively jihadist or separatist groups linked to the Middle East and central Asia. Australia's domestic spy agency has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the growing threat of far-right violence. Since an Australian gunman killed 51 worshippers at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has said the far-right threat had "increased" and become an "enduring threat". But until now the country's conservative government has been reluctant to formally designate any organisations as terror groups. The move means that being a member of the Sonnenkrieg Division … [Read more...] about Australia to place first far-right group on terror list