The threat of a terrorist attack has increased in New Zealand. The head of New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, or SIS, revealed that more New Zealanders are being monitored over the past year for suspected ties with ISIS.

Rebecca Kitteridge told Radio New Zealand that more people were on the watch list of authorities, including those who are thinking or plotting to commit terrorist attacks in the country. She said she was more worried about the possibility of a terrorist attack in New Zealand than eleven months ago when she first started on her job.

Kitteridge believes that the threat posed by ISIS is difference since the group is using social media to spread propaganda, recruit fighters and incite others to carry out attacks in their home countries. “I think it’s the first time that we’ve seen a terrorist organisation actually actively trying to recruit people to commit attacks internationally,” remarked Kitteridge.

She explained that there is currently an “active effort” by ISIS militants to recruit anyone who may be vulnerable to their propaganda. The security intelligence agency is keeping track of about 30 to 40 people. Kitteridge said the SIS tracks New Zealanders who may be inciting others, facilitating travel or providing funds to people who want to leave the country and join ISIS.

However, Tayyaba Khan, the chief executive of Wellington Change Makers Refugees Forum, said she was not aware of any ISIS-related propaganda targeting New Zealand. She added that she did not know any social media interaction that could be seen as alarming or threatening.

Kitteridge reiterated that she was being careful not to exaggerate the level of threat and said the terror threat in New Zealand has only been raised from “very low” to “low.” Her comments came following the deployment of some 140 New Zealand military troops to Iraq to help train Iraqi government forces.

Over the next three weeks, the Kiwi soldiers will be moving out of Australia where they trained with their Australian counterparts before going to the Middle East, reports TVNZ. New Zealand and Australian governments have stressed that the troops will only have a non-combat role in the fight against ISIS in Iraq.

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