Source: Radio New Zealand
Police outside Kosher Deli NZ Nick Monro
New Zealand police expect officers to guard key locations for the Jewish community until at least the end of the week.
Police say the officers, who have been armed, will stay while they continue to assess the deadly attack at Bondi that killed 15 people.
“We’re maintaining our presence while we assess what’s happened in Australia, while we ensure that everything is in New Zealand as it should be,” Assistant Commissioner for National and International Security, Mike Pannett said.
“It’s probably just a reminder that our national terrorism level remains at low in New Zealand, so that indicates there’s no immediate threat to New Zealand, but absolutely important that we give reassurance to all our communities, and on this occasion, particularly our Jewish community.”
Local leaders have said they’ve stopped holding religious celebrations in public because it is too much of a security threat.
New Zealand police have been working with the Jewish Council to ensure everyone can celebrate the Hannukah festival safely.
They say they are in contact with security agencies here multiple times a day, and also in regular contact with police in Australia.
“We are mindful that we take nothing for granted and that we are far better to be prepared and having contingencies in place,” Pannett said.
When asked how long police would remain at key sites, he said it was being assessed on a daily basis.
He expected officers to remain posted until the end of the week, if not longer.
“We are also speaking with other parts of the community of New Zealand as well, including the Muslim community,” Pannett said.
“We’re ensuring that we give them that reassurance to let them know that we are there in the event of something happening.”
Pannett said police were looking at significant events, particularly for the Jewish community, happening over the week.
“And we are maintaining a presence at those events that present a risk, but also provide the reassurance opportunity,” he said.
There was no immediate threat or increased risk to New Zealand, Pannett said.
“We are simply proceeding with caution as we assess the situation and the information that comes in from our partner agencies in Australia.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
