New Zealand on Thursday passed a new security law to criminalize preparing a terror attack, tightening a loophole that was exposed by a man who went on to conduct a mass stabbing in the country’s most populated city. ADVERTISEMENTIt is now an offense to plot and prepare a terror attack, which Kris Faafoi, New Zealand’s Minister of Justice, said brings security laws in line with most other countries. The new law comes less than a month after police shot dead Samsudeen, a 32-year-old Sri Lankan national, moments after he launched his attack. New Zealand had in 2020 unsuccessfully sought to charge Samsudeen with terrorism offences after he bought a hunting knife and was found with Islamic State videos. However, a judge ruled Samsudeen did not convene New Zealand’s terror laws at the time.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 30, 2021 02:15 UTC