Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this afternoon that she has designated the gunman as a "terrorist entity". "This designation ensures the offender cannot be involved in the financing of terrorism in the future," Ardern said. Ardern didn't name the gunman in her statement, and would only refer to him as "a terrorist entity". "We have an obligation to New Zealand and to the wider international community to prevent the financing of terrorist acts," Ardern said. The Prime Minister may designate individuals or groups as terrorist entities, on advice from officials, according to the Terrorism Suppression Act.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 01, 2020 01:52 UTC