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Terrorism security expert Chris Kumeroa says New Zealanders need to be alert to potential threats
Terrorism security expert Chris Kumeroa says the New Zealand public needs to be more aware of potential terror threats.
A terrorism security expert and former SAS soldier, Chris Kumeroa, says the public can’t just rely on security organisations to keep them safe from terror attacks. He’s warning New Zealanders that we need to be more aware of potential threats.
Everyone has a role to play using what he calls ‘situational awareness’.
“It’s people having an understanding of what’s not quite right,” he says. “Developing that sixth sense, that something doesn’t feel right with this picture.
“Generally it stands out, people have to act on that suspicion and alert the authorities. If it turns out to be nothing at least the public have done their duty.
Terrorism security expert Chris Kumeroa believes the attack on the Masjid Al Noor mosque near Hagley Park was sophisticated and well financed.
He says New Zealand is what security experts call a soft target, where people freely move about the place.
Security experts have been warning the public for years the terrorism threat to New Zealand was real.
“People have said it’s a matter of time before it comes here – well, it’s here and now,” says Kumeroa.
Armed police and specialist armed police outside the Linwood Majid. Seven people were killed and more injured during the second terror attack.
In an online manifesto posted by the man accused of murder, he claims to have targeted New Zealand two years ago and planned the attack at the Christchurch mosques for the last three months.
Kumeroa, who has analysed live video of the shooting, says the planning was precise.
Although shocking, he said the video helps by giving clues to the shooter’s psyche and whether he acted alone. His weapon skill sets reflects he was an amateur but his planning was sophisticated and well financed, Kumeroa said.
Police officer and AOS staff stand by during the aftermath of Christchurch’s two terror attacks.
“He’s obviously staked out the place.”
“He’s either been in there or sat off to the side and he knows where to go in, set up his base to start his attack from.
“He may have done a dry run and knew Friday was the day to do it.”
It is yet to be determined if he acted alone or can be linked to other groups in Australia or overseas.
But Kumeroa believes the music heard playing during the filming and writing on the weapons are vital clues.
A profile of the gunman’s psyche shows he was very calm during the first shooting.
“You listen to his breathing. Very calculated, very slow and in control of what he’s doing,” says Kumeroa.
“He gets out of the vehicle and walks purposefully towards the mosque. People see him and he doesn’t panic.
“His weapon handling skills aren’t super proficient but he’s obviously had some handling before.”
Police have been dealing with a number of gun crimes for the past six months but it may have prepared them for the Christchurch terror attack.
In the first shooting, Kumeroa estimates 6-8 magazines with 30 rounds in each were used, that’s 180 to 240 bullets.
He says if the shooter had a firearms licence he would have paid out a lot of money to carry out the killings. Kumeroa calculates, including the car, the whole operation may have cost $40,000-$50,000.
Kumeroa says the weapon systems aren’t cheap.
“You can pick them up anywhere. But it takes money, $1500 to $1800 a pop. Plus accessories, like magazines and ammunition is about $2 per bullet.
“They’re 30 round magazines.
“Maybe $10,000 in weapon systems and you’re probably looking at another $2000-$3000 in ammunition and magazine plus all the accessories.”
Kumeroa is concerned there is more to come in the form of either a public backlash or copycat killings here or overseas. He’s advising the public to remain vigilant.
He believes the ramping up of gun crimes around the country in the past four to six months, and in Christchurch two weeks ago, had prepared police to deal with the situation better.
“What’s really good is how the police managed to isolate him, put their lives at risk to apprehend him.”