At least six people have been injured in alone-wolf stabbing attack at a supermarket in the New Zealand city of Auckland,before police shot him dead, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The man, known to the government’s “multipleagencies”, was killed within 60 seconds after beginning the attack at noon,Ardern said on Friday, adding that he had been inspired by the ISIL (ISIS) group.
"We were doing absolutely everythingpossible to monitor him and indeed the fact that we were able to intervene soquickly, in roughly 60 seconds, shows just how closely we were watchinghim," Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
The man was a Sri Lankan national and hadbeen living in New Zealand since 2011.
"A violent extremist undertook aterrorist attack on innocent New Zealanders," Jacinda Ardern tolda briefing on Friday.
She said: "This was someone who wasknown to our national security agencies and was of concern and was beingmonitored constantly. There are very few that fall into this category."
"What happened today was despicable, itwas hateful, it was wrong," Ardern said after the latest attack.
"It was carried out by an individual,not a faith, not a culture, not an ethnicity. He alone carries the responsibilityfor these acts."
Asked about the man's motivations, she said"it was a violent ideology and ISIS-inspired", using an acronym forthe Islamic State jihadist group.
"I know that we've been doing everythingthat we could, so I was absolutely gutted," she said, describing herfeelings upon learning about the stabbings.
Ardern would not disclose exactly how manyother terror suspects were under surveillance in the community, saying only"there are very few people who fall into this category".
"To everyone who was there and whowitnessed such a horrific event, I can't imagine how you are feeling but thankyou for rushing to the aid of the people who needed you," she said.