SIS working to prevent retaliation attacks

The country’s security agency says it is working around the clock to ensure there is no revenge attack in New Zealand after Islamic State reportedly called for retaliation.

There are no indications Isis has directly made a threat to New Zealand as a result of the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch last Friday.

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported the spokesman for the Islamic State ended six months of silence to call for retaliation over the attacks that killed 50 people.

The faceless spokesman, who goes by the name Abu-Hassan Al Muhajir, said the scenes of the massacres should wake up those who were fooled and should incite supporters of the caliphate to avenge their religion.

In his 44-minute recording, he portrayed the shootings by a white extremist as an extension of the campaign against the Islamic State.

He likened the attack to the battle raging in the last village under Isis control in Syria, the New York Times reported.

The recording does not specifically call for attacks on New Zealand soil, or against New Zealanders.

When approached about the Isis recording, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern referred Stuff to the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.

Director-General of Security Rebecca Kitteridge said the agency was operating 24 hours a day, and drawing on its international partnerships.

‘‘We are focused on supporting police in their important investigation and the resulting prosecutions,’’ she said. ‘‘We are also focused on mitigating the risks to New Zealanders posed by possible revenge or copycat attacks.’’