Attacker was freed despite terror videos
The extremist shot and killed by police after stabbing seven people in New Zealand had been freed, despite being caught with a hunting knife and Islamic State videos.
Ahamed Samsudeen, 32, was under surveillance when he launched the attack in an Auckland supermarket. Authorities had earlier imprisoned Samsudeen for three years after catching him with the knife and extremist videos but said they could not keep him locked up, despite grave fears.
Samsudeen grabbed a kitchen knife from a shelf in a supermarket and stabbed five people on Friday, critically injuring three.
Officers shot him dead within minutes of him beginning his attack. A bystander’s video records the sound of 10 shots being fired in rapid succession. Two more shoppers were injured in the incident.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Samsudeen had been watched 24/7 since 2016, adding she was “gutted” that he was able to carry out the attack despite being on a terror watchlist.