New Zealand police shot and killed “violent extremists” who stabbed 6 people in a supermarket

new Zealand Authorities said on Friday that after a violent extremist entered the supermarket and stabbed six shoppers, they shot and killed him.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the incident as a terrorist attack. She said the man is a Sri Lankan national inspired by the Islamic State organization. She said he is well-known in the national security agency and is under surveillance around the clock.

She said that according to the law, the man could not be detained in prison.

Ardern said the three who were stabbed were seriously injured.

“This is a violent attack. It is meaningless,” Arden said. “I’m sorry this happened.”

The attack occurred at a Countdown supermarket in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, at about 2:40 pm.

Ardern said that because the man was under constant surveillance, the police surveillance team and a special tactics team were able to shoot him within 60 seconds of the attack.

Police Chief Andrew Coster said they were concerned about the man’s ideology and followed him closely. Coster said they followed him from his house to the supermarket on Friday.

“He entered the store as before. He got a knife from the store,” Koster said. “The surveillance team is as close as possible to monitor his activities.”

Coster said that as soon as the riots began, two police officers from the special operations team rushed over. He said the man approached the police with a knife, so they shot him to death.

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A bystander video taken from the inside of the supermarket recorded the sound of 10 continuous rapid firing.

Ardern said that legal restrictions prevented her from discussing everything about the case, but she hopes that these restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible.

According to reports, some shoppers in the supermarket tried to help the injured with towels and diapers.

“For everyone present and witnessing such a terrible event, I can’t imagine how they would feel in the aftermath,” Ardern said. “But thank you for helping those who need you when you need you.”

Auckland is currently under strict lockdown as it is fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Most businesses are closed, and people usually have to leave their homes to buy groceries, medical needs or exercise.