New Zealand Steps Up Security After Sydney Siege: PM Says Many People Are Under Observation

The horrific Sydney siege has moved New Zealand into greater vigil. On Tuesday, Prime Minister John Key stated that New Zealand intelligence agencies are monitoring certain individuals having "characteristics" similar to the man behind the hostage drama in Sydney. Sydney's Martin Place siege culminated in tragedy with the death of three people, including the gunman Man Haron Monis, who was shot dead in a volley of gunfire, in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The Prime Minister clarified that New Zealand has not altered its risk levels as a result of events across the Tasman. But the independent group responsible for monitoring the situation will be reviewing that. The PM confirmed that some 30 to 40 individuals, who have been identified as a threat to New Zealand's national security, are under watch. They also include some people who had "not identical, but similar characteristics" to the attacker in Sydney, reported Stuff.Co,Nz.

New Zealand Vulnerable

Mr Key said it would be naive to think an attack similar to the Sydney siege would not happen in New Zealand. "I think you have to say yes," the PM quipped. But the silver lining is that such acts are committed by a small group of people, as far as New Zealand is concerned. "We do our best to monitor them but as you can see these people in Australia and Canada were all known to the authorities, so it shows you how high the threshold is before someone can actually be detained - and that's the challenge between freedom and liberty and keeping New Zealanders safe," Mr John Key said.

In a security speech in November the PM had warned that some Islamic State sympathisers in New Zealanders were trying to plot violent actions in the country. Last week, the New Zealand government passed the "foreign fighters" bill for adding more claws to the security laws with provisions for increased surveillance and cancellation of passports. The new law seeks to tackle home-grown terrorism. The government has justified the harsh laws arguing that the rise of ISIS in the Middle East has substantially increased the risk of a local attack in New Zealand.

Muslim Youth Sentenced

Meanwhile, a New Zealand judge sentenced a Muslim youth for provocative behavior including shouting of Jihadist slogans. During the court proceedings on Tuesday, the judge referred to the Sydney siege and called it "an elephant in the room".

The accused, Imran Patel, 25, appeared in Auckland District Court, He was facing charges of threatening the authorities of Avondale Islamic Centre in last May. Judge Ema Aitken observed that the case had shades of extremism, though it is not that big compared to the Sydney incident, reported NZ Herald.