Spy chiefs, police and the Prime Minister have apologised after a much-awaited report detailed how the Christchurch mosque terrorist was able to plot, amass an arsenal of weapons and execute his deadly attack.
New Zealand’s security agencies had deployed “an inappropriate concentration of resources” probing Islamic extremism when the Australian-born gunman attacked two mosques on March 15 last year, a royal commission of inquiry concluded in a much-awaited 792-page report released yesterday.
But despite that focus - along with police accepting Brenton Harrison Tarrant“did not meet required standards” in their firearms licence checks and processes -nothing could have been done to stop the attacks, which left 51 Muslims dead, the independent report says.
Muslim leaders, shooting survivors and grieving families reacted to the report’s release with concerns it lacked conclusions on accountability.
However, they hope the inquiry’s report, which makes 44 recommendations including an overhaul of the “old-fashioned” police firearms licensing system and calls for a new agency with responsibility for strategic issues around intelligence and security, will result in a safer, more tolerant New Zealand.
Rashid Omar, whose 24-year-old son Tariq was shot dead at the Al Noor mosque, had waited a long time to find out what really happened and why.
But the release of yesterday’s report left him - and other families - with unanswered questions.
Mr Omar wants a copy of the royal commission’s interview with the terrorist released, along with more details about his gun licence referees. He also wants non-sensitive details about why intelligence officers focused on the threat of Islamic fundamentalists.
“While the courts have dealt appropriately with the terrorist, the affected families, survivors and witnesses have not had their questions answered, particularly around the question of accountability,” he said.
Abdigani Ali, spokesman for the Al Noor and Linwood mosques, said his community found it “alarming” the risk posed by right-wing extremism was “so poorly understood and resourced” by intelligence services and that before May 2018 resources were allocated almost exclusively to the threat of Islamist terrorism.
“This report must lead to change. We have 800 pages of words - we now need them translated to powerful action.
“It’s time for change and the time is ripe to make those changes. We have one of the most diverse parliaments in the world and all sorts of groups are waking up to outdated ideology that has disadvantaged different parts of New Zealand’s community for a very long time,”Mr Ali said.
Al Noor imam Gamal Fouda said: “Before the terror attack, I had reported suspicious people around the Deans Ave mosque but was disappointed by the lack of action taken by police.”
Much action would need to follow the findings, he said.
The inquiry, launched just 10 days after the attacks and chaired by Sir William Young, investigated the gunman’s activities before the atrocities, including his travel here and around the world, how he obtained firearms, his use of social media and what relevant state sector agencies knew about him.
Many of the 44 recommendations focus on how to prevent, detect and respond to threats of violent extremism -and how the new national intelligence and security agency would operate and work with communities, civil society, government and the private sector.
A gaming friend of the gunman, proposed by him as a referee on his firearms licence application, was “well aware” of his extremist political opinions and that he was racist and Islamophobic -but did not tell the vetting officer.
“Insufficient attention” was given to the gunman’s referees, the report said, concluding police administration of the firearms licensing system “did not meet required standards”.
Faisal Sayad, of the Linwood Islamic Centre who also survived the shooting, said bias shown by government agencies led to a lack of trust between their community and several government agencies - including the police.
“We now need to ensure that the changes this inquiry recommends will be effective in rebuilding that trust,” he said.
SIS director-general Rebecca Kitteridge said while no failures were found within government agencies, “many” lessons could be learned and “significant areas” needed change.
She also apologised to the Muslim community after hearing how they felt “targeted by the security agencies” or felt “under suspicion” when they were not.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said although nothing could have stopped the attack - which the report said was carried out by a “lone actor” - there were still failings at a high level.
“And for that I apologise.”
The Government has agreed in principle to implementing all 44 recommendations in the report and Ms Ardern hopes they can act quickly.
“We all have a role to play in ensuring an event like March 15 never happens again.”
