Police confirm Dunedin property linked to terror attack

Police have flooded a Sommerville St. Photo: Tim Miller
Police have flooded a Sommerville St. Photo: Tim Miller
Police have confirmed they are at a Dunedin "location of interest" in relation to the Christchurch terror attack after a mosque shooter said in a manifesto published on social media before the attack he originally planned to target Dunedin's Al Huda Mosque. 

Police armed with guns are at the intersection between Somerville and Every Sts and armed offenders squad members have been photographed at a property on  Somerville St.

More police flooded the street about 7.30pm and a reporter at the scene at 8.20pm said residents near the property of interest had been evacuated and residents at the cordon told they were not allowed to return.

Police earlier told residents to stay indoors.

Police outside an  address in Somerville St Dunedin. Photo: Christine O'Connor
Police outside an address in Somerville St Dunedin. Photo: Christine O'Connor

The street is blocked from Every St up to Dunrobin St.

Just before 11pm Southern District Police said the property was a "location of interest" in relation to the Christchurch terror attack.

Evacuations of nearby properties had taken place as a "precaution".

Alternative accommodation had been provided for residents requiring it and cordons were in place in the Somerville St and Everton Rd area.

Detectives and other officers could seen going into the property and searching it.

The Otago Daily Times understands a vehicle involved in the incident was from Dunedin.

RNZ are reporting that a car connected to the Christchurch terror attach was purchased in Dunedin two years ago and registered to a Sommerville St address.

Armed police are outside the Dunedin mosque in Forth St. Photo: Amelia PatonArmed police were earlier stationed outside the Dunedin mosque in Forth St. Photo: SuppliedArmed police were earlier stationed outside the Dunedin mosque in Clyde St. Photo: Suppl
Armed police were earlier stationed outside the Dunedin mosque in Clyde St. Photo: Supplied

In the manifesto the man says he originally planned to attack the Al Huda Mosque as a result of a post made by the Otago Muslim Association.

The video on Facebook, he said, was labelled “Only for Muslims. Please do not redistribute”.

However, the man said he later focused his attention further north after a trip to Christchurch.

“After visiting the mosques in Christchurch and Linwood and seeing the desecration of the church that had been converted to a mosque in Ashburton, my plans changed,” he wrote.

He claimed the Christchurch mosques contained “more adults and a prior history of extremism”.

The manifesto also revealed he planned an attack on the Ashburton mosque. 

An armed police officer guards the Al Huda Mosque in Dunedin this afternoon following the...
An armed police officer guards the Al Huda Mosque in Dunedin this afternoon following the shootings in Christchurch. Photo: Staff photographer

“Whilst I am unsure as of this time of writing whether I will reach that target, it was a bonus objective,” he wrote.

Al Huda Mosque was earlier today guarded by armed offenders squad members, but they were no longer there as of just after 5.20pm.

Mosque member Haizal Hussaini said the community was aware they may have been the original targets which was extremely disturbing.

On advice from police the mosque would close and only reopen when they knew it was safe

"The community at the moment is very anxious and we've just put out a notice to our members on Facebook telling them to be careful and extra vigilant at this time."

In a Facebook post the Otago Muslim Association said it urged the city's muslim community to stay calm and be extra vigilant."

They were working with Campus Watch and police for safety in the campus area and around the mosque.

Anyone who felt unsafe or needed support should call campus watch or police, the post said.

The University of Otago said today that owing to the events in Christchurch it was is postponing its 150th anniversary street parade which was scheduled for tomorrow 

A replacement date will be decided in due course.

Armed police were earlier stationed outside the Dunedin mosque in Clyde St. Photo: Supplied
Armed police were earlier stationed outside the Dunedin mosque in Clyde St. Photo: Supplied

Add a Comment

Our journalists are your neighbours

We are the South's eyes and ears in crucial council meetings, at court hearings, on the sidelines of sporting events and on the frontline of breaking news.

As our region faces uncharted waters in the wake of a global pandemic, Otago Daily Times continues to bring you local stories that matter.

We employ local journalists and photographers to tell your stories, as other outlets cut local coverage in favour of stories told out of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

You can help us continue to bring you local news you can trust by becoming a supporter.

Become a Supporter