December 22, 2004

New Zeland Safe Haven for Terrorists

- CNN

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Islamic extremists with links to international terror groups are believed to be using New Zealand as a safe haven, the nation's top spy agency has warned.

Security Intelligence Service Director Richard Woods said in his annual report to Parliament that "increased vigilance and effort" was needed to ensure the country was neither the victim nor source of international terrorism.

"From the service's own investigations we assess that there are individuals in, or from, New Zealand who support Islamic extremist causes," Woods wrote.

The developments "indicate attempts to use New Zealand as a safe haven from which activities of security concern elsewhere can be facilitated and/or the involvement of people from New Zealand in such activities."


There are people in every country around the world who support radical Islamic causes. Exactly what has been learned to indicate something special in New Zeland is not known.

There have been various rumors as to where the next Afghanistan will be. Some say Bangledesh is the next Afghanistan based upon a growing Muslim population and poverty. Sure, New Zeland will probably never be close to Afghanistan in terms of supporting terrorism, however the alarm given by New Zeland's intelligence official raises a few eyebrows as to why this type of statement was made unless there is a viable threat.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

By at 11:08 AM | |