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Why is the Sydney church stabbing an act of terrorism, but the Bondi tragedy isn’t?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greg-barton-10990">Greg Barton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Just days after the deadly <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-14/several-killed-in-mass-stabbing-at-westfield-bondi-junction/103705354">Westfield Bondi attacks</a>, a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/albanese-says-there-is-no-place-for-violence-in-our-community/10372830">second knife attack</a> in Sydney has generated widespread shock and grief. This time, a 16-year-old entered an Assyrian church and rushed forward to stab the popular bishop presiding over a service, together with a priest who rushed to his defence. The shocking events were captured on the church’s video stream, and the news quickly reached thousands of members of Sydney’s large Assyrian community. While both priests were injured, thankfully the knife blows were not fatal. Parishioners immobilised the attacker, and police and paramedics swarmed the church. Police moved quickly to identify the assailant and analyse his apparent motivation before announcing they were treating the attack as a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-68823240">terrorist incident</a> early this morning. Public knife attacks are rare in Australia, and for Sydney to experience two in quick succession has rightfully alarmed many and, understandably, led to comparisons between the two. A lot of the discussion is around why the Bondi Junction shopping mall attack in which six were killed wasn’t considered terrorism, but this shocking, but non-lethal, attack was. So what do we know about the church attack, and what important distinctions can be made between it and the awful events at Bondi? <h2>What happened at the church?</h2> Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has developed a large following, not just in Australia but in the Assyrian diaspora <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/who-is-bishop-mar-mari-emmanuel-wakeley-church-attack/103728808">around the world</a>, with his live-streamed sermons. Shortly after seven o'clock on Monday night, the video feed of the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney’s outer west went dead, but not before it captured the shocking attack and parishioners rushing forward to help. Almost immediately, crowds gathered outside the church. We don’t yet know the motivations of the people who turned up, but it can be assumed they were there because they either saw or heard of what had happened and rushed over out of concern. Tragically, at some point the dynamics of the fast-swelling crowd took a dark turn. Instead of letting the large police and ambulance presence continue to handle the situation, some emotional onlookers turned on the authorities. Multiple police officers and paramedics were injured and vehicles were heavily damaged. It’s likely the fact the attack was captured on video, and therefore able to be shared and watched over and over again, added to the combustibility of an already volatile situation. It would appear the attack was deliberately planned to provoke an angry response. But what exactly happened in the crowd is the subject of one police investigation. <h2>Why is it considered a terrorist act?</h2> The other investigation is an anti-terrorism one. This is because while the teenager acted alone, it’s very likely they had received encouragement and backing from others. <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/unabomber">The Unabomber</a> is one of the very few documented cases of someone committing violence for ideological reasons truly in isolation. This lone actor attack in Sydney is reminiscent of the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-03/nsw-police-headquarters-gunman-was-radicalised-youth/6825028">2015 murder</a> of police accountant Curtis Cheng. He was shot dead by a 15-year-old who had been radicalised by supporters of Islamic State. It later came out <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-14/curtis-cheng-murder-surveillance-man-guilty-of-terror-plan/10900982">in court</a> the attack had been planned by three other people, who also supplied him with the gun. Police were quick to pronounce the knife attack on Monday to be an act of terrorism. Having identified the attacker, they would have been studying his social connections and examining his digital footprint. The police assessment would have also given attention to the particulars of the church targeted. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Assyrian">Assyrians</a> (people from northwest Iraq, northeast Syria and southeast Turkey) are almost exclusively Christian, belonging to one of the oldest churches in existence, living in precisely that part of the world in which the Islamic State established its brutal caliphate. It’s telling that before the caliphate was established, Assyrians made up just 3% of the Iraqi population. But in the wake of Islamic State sweeping across northern Syria and Iraq, Assyrians soon made up <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/assyrian-australians-plead-for-second-special-refugee-settlement-deal/x7ej8ix2y">40%</a> of Iraqi refugees. The trauma of those years is <a href="https://theconversation.com/diversity-and-religious-pluralism-are-disappearing-amid-iraqs-crisis-29832">recent history</a>, fresh in the minds of many. The recent Islamic State claim of responsibility for the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/27/europe/missing-people-russia-moscow-concert-hall-attack-intl/index.html">recent deadly attacks in Moscow</a>, is a reminder the group remains a live and growing threat. For these reasons police will be looking for any evidence Islamic State might have played a role in inspiring this attack. <h2>Terrorism or not terrorism?</h2> Events at the church have been under a bigger spotlight given the events of the days preceding it. Despite <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/15/false-claims-started-spreading-about-the-bondi-junction-stabbing-attack-as-soon-as-it-happened">early misinformation</a>, police said thathey believe the Bondi killer, Joel Cauchi, was not motivated by a larger political cause – that is, a terrorist motivation. Instead, they say he lashed out violently because of anger control issues related to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/14/joel-cauchi-who-was-the-queensland-man-who-carried-out-the-bondi-junction-mass-stabbing">mental ill-health</a>. But of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/14/bondi-junction-mass-stabbing-attack-who-are-the-six-victims">six people</a> he killed, five were women. Women also make up the majority of those injured. The one man who lost his life, security guard Faraz Tahir, a Muslim refugee from Pakistan, was attacked because he bravely <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/16/friend-of-bondi-security-guard-says-his-last-moments-were-brave/">rushed towards</a> danger in an attempt to try to stop Cauchi. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Cauchi <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-15/westfield-bondi-attack-stabbing-investigation/103706698">deliberately targeted women</a>. So if someone is targeting a specific group of people, isn’t that terrorism? Why does it matter if they were killing based on gender or religion? Is misogyny not terrorism? Put simply, the defining characteristic of terrorism is perpetuating violence in the name of a higher, broader cause. Terrorists have a belief in a collective goal, and see themselves as being backed by people who share that belief. Misogyny can be an element of their motivation and justification of hatred, but it’s part of a larger political project. Basically, it boils down to whether these violent actors think they’re part of a political or religious movement that’s going to <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-inclusion-is-important-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-but-so-is-speaking-honestly-about-terrorism-167429">change the system</a>, or whether they are simply angry men projecting loathing and driven by personal demons. The two, of course, are <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/not-since-the-lindt-siege-has-sydney-known-grief-like-this-20240414-p5fjnl.html">not mutually exclusive</a>. This is not to undermine the damage that angry men can, and do, inflict. Domestic violence is a bigger threat to Australians than terrorism. Calling something a terrorist act doesn’t make it more or less serious than anything else, rather the categorisation is to provide conceptual clarity for the sake of the ensuing investigation. Events at Westfield Bondi Junction and the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church are both awful, but while they share some similarities, they are different sorts of crimes with different drivers and enablers. As police investigations continue, we’ll come to better understand the nature of both.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/227997/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/greg-barton-10990">Greg Barton</a>, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Image credit: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-sydney-church-stabbing-an-act-of-terrorism-but-the-bondi-tragedy-isnt-227997">original article</a>. </div>

Caring

9/11 victim’s remains identified nearly 23 years after terror attack

Almost 23 years on from the deadly attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, a victim’s remains have been identified. John Ballantine Niven, 44, was an executive at Aon Risk Services, an insurance firm on the 105th floor of Tower Two of the Trade Centre complex in September 2001. Niven is the 1,650th victim identified from the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil, when hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers, killing 2,753 people on September 11th. At the time of his death, he left behind a wife and an 18-month-old son, with his body remaining unidentified until now. “While the pain from the enormous losses on September 11th never leaves us, the possibility of new identifications can offer solace to the families of victims,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the ongoing work from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner that honours the memory of John Ballantine Niven and all those we lost.” In recent years, the medical examiner’s office has been utilising modern advanced DNA technology to identify victims through their remains. “We will forever remember our heroes who perished on 9/11 and we appreciate the continuous efforts of forensic experts to help identify victims,” Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a separate statement. “We’re hopeful that this amazing advance in technology helps bring peace to Niven’s family and allows him to eternally rest in peace.” Roughly 40 percent of victims of the World Trade Centre attack have yet to have their remains identified, as few full bodies were recovered when the towers collapsed. Image credits: Getty Images / legacy.com

Caring

Kochie breaks silence on Lindt Café siege terror

David ‘Kochie’ Koch spared no emotion as he spoke for the first time about how he was tracked down and whisked to safety by police on the day of the Lindt Café siege. The veteran TV presenter reflected on the crippling ordeal during an interview with M’s Rush Hour with Leisel Jones, Liam and Dobbo, which was secured by news.com.au. “I’ve never talked about it,” Koch revealed when asked about the devastating events of December 15, 2014. “It had a massive impact on both Nat (Natalie Barr) and I. “The bloke involved in that (Man Haron Monis) was on our security watch list because he’d tried to get to me a few times,” Koch told the Triple M hosts. Six years before the siege, Monis had approached Koch and other Sunrise presenters as they chatted with fans outside the Martin Place studios. Monis was unhappy with a segment that had aired on the show and he allegedly accused the hosts of being “terrorists” before he was taken away by security. On the morning of the siege, Koch left the Channel 7 studios after Sunrise was over and went to a gym three blocks away. He was working out with a friend when the news of the hostage situation first broke. “I remember I got a call … (saying) ‘can I come to (the gym’s) reception,’” Koch shared. On the other end of the phone was the police, who were concerned that the TV presenter could be one of Monis’ targets. According to Koch, the police told him, “We’re coming to pick you up, take you home, you stay there until we tell you.’” Koch said the events that unfolded “had a massive impact” on him and led him to take his security much more seriously. “I have a car that I haven’t driven since because the police said it’s too distinctive,” he said. During the interview, Rush Hour co-host and Olympic gold medallist Leisel Jones revealed she was very closely caught up in the terror attack, which claimed the lives of café manager Tori Johnson and lawyer Katrina Dawson. “I was actually supposed to be in the Lindt Cafe,” Jones, who was working at the nearby Westpac building at time, shared. “(But) I didn’t want hot chocolate, I chose coffee.” Image credit: Getty / Instagram

"Sheer terror": Pensioner slapped with five-figure government fine

Pensioner Rosemary Gay opened up about the “sheer terror” she faced upon receiving a letter from the government demanding she pay back the $65,000 Robodebt bill they claimed she had been overpaid. Rosemary’s nightmare began on September 19, 2016, when the letter arrived, an event that Rosemary confesses “turned my life upside down and created an enormous emotional and mental strain on me." The letter detailed that she was required to pay the total of $64,999.17 in overpaid welfare benefits. Centrelink claimed this was because her declared amounts did not reflect what she actually earned during the period of July 9, 2010, to 6 October, 2016. “It turned my life upside down,” Rosemary told the Robodebt Royal Commission on Monday, “I’ve never earned that much money, how could I owe that much money? And the fact I was to come up with it within a matter of three or four weeks, it was sheer terror.” The emotional 76-year-old admitted that she feared she would have to sell her home to cover the debt, and detailed the bleak path she saw before her, “all I could see was that I may be faced with selling my home and losing everything that I had worked for in my 70 years, and I just saw it all going away instantly.” After contacting Centrelink, Rosemary confirmed that what she had reported was the same as what was on the paperwork. She admitted to assuming that would “be the end of it.” Officials at Centrelink eventually told Rosemary that it came down to a “glitch”, and after a review, the total of her debt was reduced to $6,600. Of her Robodebt experience, Rosemary said, “it was a very dark period of time for me and one that is very difficult to re-live. My mental health and physical health, at that stage, were at a very low ebb.” A second review brought a new letter to Rosemary in December 2016, this time stating that her debt had been reduced to $120. Finally in 2020, Rosemary was informed by Centrelink that she would be refunded the $120, with the Coalition government winding up the unlawful scheme - ruled as such by the Federal Court in 2019. It is suspected that more than 381,000 people were affected, and that over $750m was wrongfully recovered from the victims. “I was shocked and angry by this time to think they could initially cause such a traumatic experience to anybody accessing support from a pension,” Rosemary told the Royal Commission, “it will continue to remain with me forever. It’s just something I will never get over and it has had a huge impact on my physical and mental wellbeing … “That they could turn someone’s life upside down and still get it so wrong over and over again.” Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Does Australia need new laws to combat right-wing extremism?

At the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH2IUKaWXKw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Press Club</a>, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil flagged that Labor would propose <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/08/clare-oneill-warns-counter-terror-laws-may-need-to-change-to-better-handle-rightwing-extremism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changes to Australia’s counter-terrorism laws</a>. She cited an increase in diverse threats beyond religious fundamentalism, a trend towards lone-actor, low-sophistication attacks, and more <a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/asio-chief-flags-alarming-increase-in-children-lured-to-extremism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">younger people being radicalised</a>. Specifically, she referred to the threat of right-wing extremism, which in 2021 was <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7269257/ideologically-motivated-terror-now-taking-up-half-of-asio-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approaching 50% of ASIO’s caseload</a>. She did not suggest the laws will be “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/08/clare-oneill-warns-counter-terror-laws-may-need-to-change-to-better-handle-rightwing-extremism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overhauled</a>”. However, O'Neil hinted that changes to criminal law could target specific ways that extreme right-wing groups organise themselves compared to groups such as al-Qaeda or Islamic State. Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, Australia has enacted at least 96 counter-terrorism laws, amounting to <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/4287735/02-Hardy-and-Williams-34.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 5,500 pages of legislation</a>. So do we need any more laws, or changes to existing laws, to combat right-wing terrorism? <h2>Australia’s counter-terrorism laws</h2> Australia has the <a href="https://theconversation.com/before-9-11-australia-had-no-counter-terrorism-laws-now-we-have-92-but-are-we-safer-166273" target="_blank" rel="noopener">largest collection of counter-terrorism laws</a> in the world. This reflects a strong belief in legality: that powers and offences should be written into the statute books and not be left to arbitrary executive power. But it also shows how readily Australian governments have responded to evolving threats with ever-increasing powers. Our counter-terrorism laws contain countless criminal offences and powers of surveillance, interrogation and detention. As an example, a <a href="https://theconversation.com/control-orders-for-kids-wont-make-us-any-safer-49074" target="_blank" rel="noopener">control order</a> can require a child as young as 14 to obey a curfew and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet to protect the public from a terrorist act or prevent support for terrorism. Most of the offences and powers rely on a broad statutory definition of terrorism. A “terrorist act” means harmful conduct or a threat that aims to: (1) advance a political, religious or ideological cause; and (2) intimidate a government or section of the public. Importantly, this definition is ideologically neutral – as are all the laws. They do not mention Islamist or right-wing terrorism. The laws apply equally to these and other terror threats, no matter the ideology. A white supremacist who prepares or commits a terrorist act faces life imprisonment in the same way as a religious fundamentalist. <h2>What changes might be made?</h2> We won’t know the details of Labor’s proposed changes until next year. The government might ask parliament to tweak the definition of a “terrorist organisation” in Division 102 of the federal <a href="http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cca1995115/sch1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Criminal Code</a>. A terrorist organisation is one that is directly or indirectly preparing a terrorist act (or that advocates a terrorist act). Various offences stem from this definition. It is a crime, for example, to recruit for a terrorist organisation or be a member of one. The Australian government maintains a <a href="https://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/what-australia-is-doing/terrorist-organisations/listed-terrorist-organisations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">list of proscribed (banned) terrorist organisations</a>. Of the 29 currently listed, only three adhere to far-right ideology. This reflects a longer history of Islamist terrorism, though Australia has also <a href="https://www.themandarin.com.au/176216-australia-catching-up-with-proscription-of-far-right-groups/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lagged our closest allies</a> in banning right-wing extremist groups. Some features of these groups can make banning them difficult. Their membership structures, ideological demands and support for violence can be less clear compared to groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State, which have committed and encouraged terrorist acts all around the world. Right-wing extremist groups <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/05/far-right-and-anti-racism-groups-face-off-in-melbourne-flashpoint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hold divisive rallies</a>, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-far-right-are-capable-recruiters-and-have-found-fertile-ground-thanks-to-covid-20210921-p58tn7.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exploit protests</a>, spread racist sentiment and encourage hatred against minorities – but most of these acts do not constitute terrorism. Expanding the definition of a terrorist organisation could capture right-wing extremist groups that are dangerous to society but do not obviously engage in or support terrorist acts. Another possibility is that Labor could seek to ban Nazi and other hate symbols that such groups commonly use. New legislation in Victoria, which comes into force at the end of this month, makes it an <a href="https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/591323bs1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offence</a> punishable by 12 months’ imprisonment to publicly display the Nazi swastika (Hakenkreuz). The state offence will not apply to the <a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbols/search" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hundreds of hate symbols used by right-wing extremists</a>, but it sends an important message that neo-Nazi ideology holds no place in Australian society. It provides a legal mechanism to counter threats of right-wing extremism in a way that the federal counter-terrorism laws currently do not. <h2>Are changes needed?</h2> Australia’s counter-terrorism laws are already extensive and apply to all types of terrorism, so no obvious strategic gaps need to be filled. If a criminal offence or power is needed to combat terrorism, Australia already has it and more. Minor changes to Division 102 could target specific features of right-wing extremism compared to Islamist terrorism. Federal laws could supplement emerging state laws by outlawing hateful symbols used by right-wing extremists and other terrorist groups. However, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-28/banned-neo-nazi-groups-set-sights-on-australia/100030072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more right-wing groups</a> could be proscribed under the laws as they currently stand. Decisive action to ban internationally recognised right-wing extremist groups, combined with a national inquiry into hate crime law and its <a href="https://tacklinghate.org/blogs/new-research-defining-and-identifying-hate-motives-bias-indicators-for-the-australian-context/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting</a>, would send a strong message. Australia’s extensive counter-terrorism laws need not be further expanded. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-australia-need-new-laws-to-combat-right-wing-extremism-196219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Twitter

Legal

Investigations continue into hospital terror explosion

An explosion in a taxi has prompted British authorities to amp the country’s threat level up from substantial to severe, as the incident is treated as an act of terrorism. David Perry, a taxi cab driver, was injured after the cab he was driving exploded outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital just before 11am on Remembrance Sunday. Authorities are investigating the explosion and have since identified the passenger as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen, who died at the scene. According to police, Mr Al Swealmeen brought a homemade explosive device into the cab and asked Mr Perry to drive him to the hospital. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845675/bus-explosion2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0c2d4a82a159482193623405ddd5b4a6" /> Carl Bessant was inside the hospital when the explosion occurred. Image: Carl Bessant CCTV footage shows the cab pulling into the drop-off section of the hospital car park at speed before the explosion occurred. The driver then got out of the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames, and has since been treated for injuries. Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson praised Mr Perry and suggested he had diverted the incident from occurring inside the hospital by locking the passenger in the cab. “The taxi driver in his heroic efforts has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster,” she <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/liverpool-hospital-explosion-uk-terror-threat-level-raised-to-severe-after-men-arrested-under-terrorism-act/630e52b4-2135-4cdf-bad4-8ade94cb60f1" target="_blank">told</a> the BBC. “The taxi driver locked the doors. “Our thanks go to him.” However, authorities have not confirmed her account of the incident. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the “sickening attack”, telling reporters that British people “will never be cowed by terrorism”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWTKqG9sKvo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWTKqG9sKvo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ian Redpath & Jeremy Chopra (@allontheboard)</a> </div> </blockquote> “We will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence,” he said. Three men believed to be “associates” of the deceased man were also arrested in other parts of Liverpool on Sunday under the Terrorism Act, with a fourth detained on Monday. They have since been <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59287001" target="_blank">released</a> without any charges laid. In the hours following the explosion, police raided two properties where Mr Al Swealmeen was believed to live, with both located within a mile of the hospital. Police also confirmed that a controlled explosion was carried out at one of the properties where they believe Mr Al Swealmeen constructed the explosive device he used in the cab. Assistant Chief Constable Jackson <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-16/heroic-cabbie-praised-for-actions-after-deadly-liverpool-blast/100622794" target="_blank">said</a> the explosion was declared a terrorism incident, but that the motive behind it was yet to be determined. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845676/bus-explosion3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dcc90df5df7c4996bde4d00917e9c433" /> Forensic officers undertook a fingerprint search outside the hospital following the blast. Image: Getty Images “Our enquiries indicate that an improvised device has been manufactured and our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi,” he said. “The reason why he then took it to the Women’s Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for the sudden explosion.” Constable Jackson said the connection between the explosion and the time it occurred - shortly before Remembrance Day events were due to start - is a line of inquiry authorities are pursuing. Police also <a rel="noopener" href="https://newsnationusa.com/news/world/uk/controlled-explosion-near-liverpool-house-where-taxi-terrorist-made-bomb/" target="_blank">believe</a> the explosive may have failed to detonate properly or was set off prematurely. The explosion comes within a month of the UK’s first fatal incident, where British MP David Amess was stabbed to death during a constituency meeting. Image: The Guardian / YouTube

Travel Trouble

Teen who plotted ANZAC Day terrorist attack may walk free

<div> <div class="reply-list-component"> <div class="reply-component"> <div class="reply-body-component"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply-body-wrapper"> <div class="reply-body-inner"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Britain’s youngest convicted terrorist may walk free from prison after he plotted the murder of Australian police officers during ANZAC Day proceedings. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> The 20-year-old man is from Blackburn, Lancashire and is identified only as RXG. He was convicted of sending and Australian jihadist to launch attacks against police during Melbourne’s Anzac Day commemorations in 2015. He was 14 at the time of the offence and was handed a life sentence in October 2015 after he admitted to inciting another person to commit an act of terrorism overseas. On Monday, the Parole Board for England and Wales ruled that RXG was suitable for release after a hearing in September and another this month. “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in detention and the evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was satisfied that RXG was suitable for release,” the document detailing the Parole Board’s decision read. The panel said it would only permit his release “if it was satisfied that it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that RXG remained confined in prison”. His Australian accomplice, Sevdet Besim, 19, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2016. He was also given a non-parole period of seven years and six months. He pleaded guilty to one count of planning for a terrorist act in the Victorian Supreme Court.

News

Close up: World War Z frames the terror of ‘loss of self’ and the threat of a mass pandemic

How do filmmakers communicate big ideas on screen? In this video series, film scholar Bruce Isaacs analyses pivotal film scenes in detail. (Warning: this video contains violence and may be upsetting for some viewers.) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTkFBg2gSRQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> There is perhaps no better time than now to appreciate the unique and subversive genre of <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-obsessed-with-zombies-which-says-a-lot-about-today-37552">zombie movies</a>. These films have always been great socio-cultural lenses. Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead were two classics of the genre. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816711/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt">World War Z</a> (2013), an adaptation of Max Brook’s 2006 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8908.World_War_Z">apocalyptic zombie novel</a> continues this tradition. In a pivotal scene set in Jerusalem, director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286975/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marc Foster</a> encapsulates the greatest threat posed by zombies: the end of our individuality and loss of uniqueness. The casting of Hollywood star <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm">Brad Pitt</a> is crucial, as are the cuts between him as a figure and the invading mass. Written by Bruce Isaacs. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/close-up-world-war-z-frames-the-terror-of-loss-of-self-and-the-threat-of-a-mass-pandemic-145090">The Conversation.</a>

Movies

London terror attack: Man shot dead after stabbing rampage

The knifeman who strapped a fake bomb vest to his chest before stabbing two people in South London had been released from prison just a few days prior. Sudesh Amman was under the watchful eye of counter-terror cops before the “knife obsessed” jihadi went on a rampage on Streatham High Road early this morning. Terrified witnesses heard shots fire and saw the 19-year-old fall to the ground on Streatham High Road. Amman, from Harrow, North London, was sentenced to over three years in prison but was let-out on automatic release after serving half his sentence – despite concerns he still held extremist views. The man was just a teenager when he was arrested and was jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents. It was also revealed that Amman had shared an Al-Qaeda magazine in his family WhatsApp group and told his siblings “the Islamic State is here to stay”, the court heard. He owned bomb making manuals and also had plans to carry out acid attacks, his trial was told. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> *UPDATED STATEMENT* on our response to this afternoon's incident in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Streatham?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Streatham</a>. We treated three patients for injuries at the scene, and took all three people to hospital. <a href="https://t.co/oDCIO3sh6i">pic.twitter.com/oDCIO3sh6i</a> — London Ambulance Service (@Ldn_Ambulance) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ldn_Ambulance/status/1224027508695277569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> A source said Amman was released early because there was nothing the authorities could do under existing laws to keep him behind bars. But he was put under the strictest licencing terms and that’s why the police were so quick to respond to the incident that occurred today. Scotland Yard is yet to confirm that Amman was known to counter-terror authorities, but it is believed he was on the watch-list due to the speed at which they responded. Witness Kiranjeet Singh told the Sun Online that Amman stole a 10-inch knife from his brother’s bargain shop before injuring multiple people who came in his way. He stabbed a woman in the back before she ran away screaming in pain said another witness, and then he followed that attack by slashing a young man in the chest with a “huge knife”. Armed forces rushed to the scene, where the knife-wielding man was wearing a suicide vest and shot him three times just after 2pm.

Travel Trouble

Expert weighs in: In this new world of bushfire terror, I question whether I want to have kids

As fires continue to burn along Australia’s south-east, it’s impossible to ignore how climate change can wreak devastation and disrupt lives. Australia has always experienced bushfires. However, climate change <a href="https://theconversation.com/weather-bureau-says-hottest-driest-year-on-record-led-to-extreme-bushfire-season-129447">means</a> this year’s bushfires were so extreme in their ferocity and spread they could be <a href="https://www.space.com/australia-wildfires-space-station-astronaut-photo.html">seen from space</a>. And this is just a taste of what’s to come. I’m a marine scientist, and research the effects of climate change on coral reefs. Aside from bushfires, coral bleaching is one of the most severe manifestations of climate change in Australia. Watching corals turn white and die is just another daily reminder of the disasters our children will be up against. Until now, my partner and I have both wanted to be parents one day. Now I’m not so sure. Here are the things I’m weighing up. The forces at play I am not alone in these family planning concerns. In September last year I hosted a Women in STEM seminar and photography <a href="https://www.emergingcreativesofscience.com/women-in-steam">exhibit</a> showcasing female scientists at the University of New South Wales. One of the major points of discussion was how to plan for a family, knowing how climate change will affect the quality of life of the next generation. Cases of “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-eco-anxiety-climate-change-affects-our-mental-health-too-123002">eco-anxiety</a>” when it comes to family planning are on the rise. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/it-doesn-t-feel-justifiable-the-couples-not-having-children-because-of-climate-change-20190913-p52qxu.html">Many couples</a> in my generation are rethinking what it means to start a family. Even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-harry-reveals-how-many-kids-he-and-meghan-will-have/news-story/1f6acaf856c50b6e613cd882aa0d9f74">said last year</a> they’ll have only two children at most, for the sake of the planet. But other factors also affect family planning decisions, such as religious, cultural and societal expectations. And of course there are the views of partners and spouses to take into account. In my case, I come from a large Italian-American, Catholic family. My family expects me to settle down and have babies as soon as possible. But my partner and I both agree the planet cannot sustain a growing population that results from these traditional religious expectations. Would going childless make a difference? Studies show having fewer children is one of the most effective ways an individual can mitigate climate change. Choosing to have one less child prevents <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541#erlaa7541f1">58.6 tonnes of carbon emissions</a> entering the atmosphere each year, according to a 2017 study. That’s like 25 Australians going car-free for the rest of their lives. In fact, even if you do your bit to reduce emissions in your lifetime, such as riding a bike and using energy-saving lightbulbs, having two children means your <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-family-planning-could-be-part-of-the-answer-to-climate-change-32667">“legacy” of carbon emissions could be 40 times greater</a> than that saved through lifestyle changes. But having one less child is not a quick fix for climate change. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4246304/">As research in 2014 pointed out</a>, even one-child policies imposed worldwide, coupled with events causing catastrophic numbers of deaths, would still leave the world population at 5–10 billion people by 2100 – enough to cause stress on future ecosystems. So it’s critical we, as consumers, start now in making our lifestyles more environmentally friendly if the world’s population continues to grow. The above research concluded the most immediate and effective way to keep the planet’s warming at bay is policies and technologies to reign in global emissions. The planet our children will inhabit On our current business-as-usual trajectory, we’re on track for at least a <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures/">4℃</a>temperature increase by 2100. Even if the temperature increase was limited to 2.8℃ (now an optimistic scenario) major changes in <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/07/major-us-cities-will-face-unprecedente-climates-2050/">weather patterns would occur by 2050</a>. These changes would bring more <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/climate-change-and-drought-factsheet/">severe droughts</a>, <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/updates/articles/a023.shtml">flooding</a>, <a href="https://time.com/5627355/climate-change-heat-waves/">heatwaves</a>, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/">sea level rise</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/11/what-are-the-links-between-climate-change-and-bushfires-explainer">bushfires</a>. This is not a future I want for my children. Already, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0315-6">climate hazards have been implicated</a> in pre- and post-natal health problems for children. Children whose mothers were exposed to floods while pregnant exhibited increased bedwetting, aggression towards other children and below-average birth weight, juvenile height and academic performance. What’s more, exposure to smoke from fires during pregnancy may have affected brain development and resulted in premature birth, small head circumference, low birth weight and foetal death This season’s bushfires caused a <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/spike-in-ambulance-calls-for-help-before-smoke-haze-worsens-20200107-p53pea.html">51% spike</a> in people needing help for respiratory issues on one of the most extreme days in Melbourne. Children are among the most vulnerable to respiratory issues stemming from poor air quality. But it’s not just physical health in question – mental health is also at risk. Today’s children already know that without major change, the world they were born into will limit their quality of life. It’s not only affecting their <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-dread-and-worry-keeping-young-australians-up-at-night-20191115-p53aw5.html">mental health</a>, but also their process of identity formation, with children experiencing an “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-terror-of-climate-change-is-transforming-young-peoples-identity-113355">existential whiplash</a>”. They’re caught between two forces: the belief held by previous generations that if you work hard you’ll have a high quality of life, and knowledge that climate change will make parts of the planet inhabitable. Weighing it all up Of course, improvements in family planning are not solely a matter for the developed world. As <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2102">experts have stated</a>, family planning has the potential to empower women in developing nations, giving them the basic human right to choose whether to have children. Policies to support this – such as better access to contraception and giving more girls a quality education – <a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/11/08-062562/en/">would be a “win-win”</a>, improving reproductive rights and slowing the population growth to combat climate change. As for my own situation, my mind isn’t yet made up. I am seriously considering not having kids altogether. Or perhaps my partner and I will have only one child, or adopt. But one thing is clear. Whether you want to create a healthier planet or you’re concerned about the Earth your children will inherit, climate change should weigh heavily on your family planning decisions. Written by Melissa Pappas. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-this-new-world-of-bushfire-terror-i-question-whether-i-want-to-have-kids-126752">The Conversation.</a>

Retirement Life

“Absence of empathy”: Donald and Melania Trump under fire over photo with El Paso shooting victim

A backlash is building over Donald and Melania Trump after the US first lady posted a photo on Twitter showing the couple smiling broadly while holding a two-month-old baby whose parents were killed in the El Paso mass shooting. On a visit to the Texan city last week, the president could be seen flashing a thumbs-up when posing with the infant as well as hospital staff and first responders. The child, named Paul, lost his parents Jordan and Andre Anchondo after they attempted to shield him from the bullets in the August 3 shooting. The boy was discharged from University Medical Center, but reportedly brought back at the request of White House for Trump’s visit. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> I met many incredible people in Dayton, Ohio & El Paso, Texas yesterday. Their communities are strong and unbreakable. <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> and I stand with you! <a href="https://t.co/SHzV6zcVKR">pic.twitter.com/SHzV6zcVKR</a> — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1159511786695069697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2019</a></blockquote> The pictures have been widely slammed, with many people describing the Trumps’ gesture as insensitive. “Your husband is grinning like a game show contestant and giving a ‘thumbs up’ next to a baby orphaned during another mass murder,” one wrote in response to the first lady’s post. “If you had normal human empathy you’d realize how horribly odd this is.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 374.867px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829452/trumpselpaso.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/283bb8aeae9d445fa7a6841180934a99" /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> Your husband is grinning like a game show contestant and giving a "thumbs up" next to a baby orphaned during another mass murder. If you had normal human empathy you'd realize how horribly odd this is. Then again, if you did you wouldn't be married to him. — John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnpavlovitz/status/1159846976399298561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> I can’t look at this. I am just stunned & horrified. How did this happen? Who thought releasing a photo of these monsters holding a newly orphaned infant, whose parents were killed thanks to their racist vitriol, with a grin & thumbs up was somehow acceptable? They are heartless. — Amie Wexler (@am_wex) <a href="https://twitter.com/am_wex/status/1159718367516712961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> THE THUMBS UP. I’m nauseous. Bringing an orphaned baby back for a photo op. It’s all horrible. <a href="https://t.co/0Ls8jaRREt">https://t.co/0Ls8jaRREt</a> — Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1159883673102979072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2019</a></blockquote> A hospital official told <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/08/politics/trump-el-paso-victims-hospital-visit/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> there was a general assessment among patients that the president acted with “an absence of empathy” during the visit. “Some people didn’t want any visitors. Some didn’t want to meet [Trump],” the official said. The president did not meet with any of the eight survivors still receiving treatment in the hospital. Five declined to see Trump, while three were in poor condition or do not speak English. According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/09/trump-el-paso-melania-orphan-baby-thumbs-up" target="_blank">Guardian</a>, doctors at the Del Sol medical center also said Trump appeared to “lack empathy” after he boasted about drawing a larger crowd at a January rally in the city than “crazy” 2020 Democratic presidential contender Beto O’Rourke. Tito Anchondo, the uncle of the baby, told The Associated Press on Friday that Trump “was just there to give his condolences and he was just being a human being”. He told the <a href="https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/08/06/el-paso-texas-family-grieves-parents-who-died-protecting-newborn-son-walmart-attack/1937865001/">El Paso Times</a> that his late brother supported Trump. He said, “We should be coming together as a country at this time instead of threatening each other with hate messages.”

News

Lindt café sniper sues NSW Police over "failure" to save lives

The chief sniper in the Lindt café siege is set to sue the NSW Police Force for negligence, alleging he and fellow officers were prevented from doing their jobs and that the lives of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson could have been saved. The officer, who was only identified as Sierra 3-1, claimed in a 30-page affidavit that he has suffered psychological trauma due to the decisions taken by his superiors during the December 2014 siege in Sydney. He lodged a complaint about the senior officers to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commissioner after the 2016 inquest, but the complaint was dismissed. “The way we trained for incidents like this is for the sniper co-ordinator to be in the command post,” he said. “I asked to perform that role on this occasion, but I didn’t.” A relative said making a complaint and taking a civil action was a “big decision” for the chief sniper, who was medically discharged from the force in 2017. “He believes Tori Johnson’s life was saveable and says that in his affidavit,” the relative said. <img style="width: 500px; height: 333.008px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7826283/lindt.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b65db7cff7f144b6ac5bf0fee392ed9c" /> According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lindt-cafe-siege-sniper-sues-nsw-police-for-negligence-alleging-lives-could-have-been-saved/news-story/9db583e21cfd49864a2cc82601a78d18" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph</a>, the civil action was lodged on April 12 in the NSW District Court for a one-day hearing scheduled for next year. The case is expected to re-examine many aspects of the siege, which saw 17 people being taken hostage by gunman Man Haron Monis. The 50-year-old terrorist was killed in the siege along with 34-year-old Lindt café manager Tori Johnson and 38-year-old barrister Katrina Dawson.

Legal

Jacinda Ardern's admission to Waleed Aly: "That news did take some time for me to process"

In her first media interview since the Christchurch terror attack, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that it "did take some time to process" that the shooter was Australian. Ardern was speaking to Waleed Aly, who was invited to NZ after he delivered an "incredible" <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/scott-morrison-plans-to-sue-waleed-aly-and-channel-ten" target="_blank">segment</a> on The Project in the wake of the March 15 shootings that left 50 people dead. "It might seem strange but I saw your piece on The Project ... it was incredible," Ardern told Aly at the beginning of the interview. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheProjectTV%2Fvideos%2F349039202384359%2F&show_text=1&width=476" width="476" height="587" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> In the interview, the NZ PM said it was difficult to confront the news that the shooter was an Australian citizen. "That was news that did take some time for me to process," she said. "But I think New Zealanders are reflecting on the fact that it was not one of us, because in part that helps them process what has happened here. They do not point it out as an intent to blame, that is now why it’s raised." Ardern also had a message to Australia. "I just say thank you. Thank you for the solidarity and support. We are absolutely family." Ardern also addressed the criticisms that came after she wore a head scarf for a meeting with members of the Muslim community following the attack. "I gave it very little thought ... it was so obvious to me that that would be the appropriate thing to do," she said. "It didn't occur to me for a moment that there would be those women in the community that would feel unsafe wearing … their faith, and so if in wearing the hijab as I did gave them a sense of security to continue to practice their faith, then I'm very pleased I did it. "My job is to make people feel safe. The idea that people do not, I find deeply distressing, and it's my job to bring that sense of security back." While Aly’s segment impressed Ardern, it created a string of controversies back home, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/scott-morrison-plans-to-sue-waleed-aly-and-channel-ten" target="_blank">reportedly considering suing</a> the Channel 10 show for defamation. In the segment, Aly referred to a 2010 cabinet meeting in which Morrison suggested using anti-Muslim community sentiment for political gain. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheProjectTV%2Fvideos%2F825676911124387%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> However, Morrison told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ugly-and-disgusting-lie-pm-attacks-eight-year-old-report-about-muslim-immigration-20190320-p515p7.html" target="_blank">ABC TV</a> last week that he would not pursue any legal action. "I have no intention of doing that, I just simply want people to report the truth and that is an ugly and disgusting lie," he said.

News

"Pretty pathetic": Air New Zealand slammed for "profiting" off Christchurch tragedy

A New Zealand airline has dropped fares for Christchurch flights after a customer lambasted the skyrocketing ticket prices in the face of recent terror attacks. National carrier Air New Zealand has announced that it will cap one-way domestic fares to and from Christchurch at NZ$139 following backlash from the public and government. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Air NZ has capped one-way domestic fares for flights directly to and from Christchurch at $139 to assist customers needing to travel there to support those affected by the shooting tragedy – <a href="https://t.co/myG1nRfbfE">https://t.co/myG1nRfbfE</a> — AirNZMedia (@AirNZMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AirNZMedia/status/1107044554497130496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2019</a></blockquote> Previously, a return trip between Auckland to Christchurch had cost between $747 and $787 following Friday’s terror attacks on two mosques. Activist Guled Mire took to Twitter to criticise the pricing on Saturday. “This is ridiculous! People are literally trying to fly in to Christchurch to be with loved ones and for funerals happening in the next day or so. Pretty pathetic to be prioritising profit in current circumstances,” Mire wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/FlyAirNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FlyAirNZ</a> this is ridiculous! People are literally trying to fly in to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Christchurch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Christchurch</a> to be loved ones and for funerals happens in the next day or so. Pretty pathetic to be prioritising profit in current circumstances. <a href="https://t.co/NtFD8egEHY">pic.twitter.com/NtFD8egEHY</a> — Guled Mire (@GuledMire) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuledMire/status/1106828140121227264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2019</a></blockquote> The airline replied that the fares were increased because of the limited availability, even after they had added additional capacity. Finance Minister Grant Robertson, the shareholding minister for Air NZ, also reprimanded the airline. The NZ government owns 52 per cent of the carrier. “I have just made contact with Air New Zealand and made my views clear,” Robertson wrote on Twitter. “I know they do offer compassionate fares at times and this would have to be one of them.” In a statement published on Sunday, Air NZ said they have offered free flights to immediate family members of the deceased as well as compassionate fares “to other affected friends and family with close to 100 bookings made so far, including a number of group bookings.” The airline will also pay retroactive refunds for domestic bookings made after 3 pm on Friday to reflect the $139 cap. On Friday, Christchurch saw mass shootings at two mosques. At least 50 people were killed, and 50 others were wounded, with the victims hailing from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Egypt. So far, the only perpetrator found to be linked to the terror attacks is 28-year-old Australian man Brenton Tarrant.

Travel Trouble

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

Witnesses have described terrifying scene of people “running for their lives” after a man detonated a homemade bomb inside the New York subway system during Monday morning rush hour. Authorities called the explosion in the terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue an "attempted terrorist attack" and police identified the suspect in custody as Akayed Ullah, 27. The suspect, a former cab driver believed to be from Bangladesh, strapped an improvised pipe bomb to his body with velcro and zip ties that exploded in an underground passageway. <img width="398" height="299" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/080b6834f11ec8649f756eb2d21b2398" alt="Akayed Ullah pictured on his 2011 driver’s licence shows. Picture: New York Department of Motor Vehicles via AP" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The New York Post report he carried out the attack as revenge, saying from his hospital bed according to law enforcement sources the Post spoke to: “They’ve been bombing in my country and I wanted to do damage here.” New York governor Andrew Cuomo described the explosive as an unsophisticated “low-tech device” that the suspect learnt how to make on the internet. He told CNN the man “wound up hurting himself” when the device partially detonated in the passageway. The New York Police Department said Akayed was in custody at Bellevue Hospital in a serious condition suffering burns and lacerations to his hands and abdomen. Three people suffered minor, “non-life-threatening” injuries including ringing in their ears n, the New York Fire Department confirmed. One of the injured was a Port Authority police officer.

News

BREAKING: Several people killed after truck plows into cyclists in New York

A man has been shot and taken into custody in New York after driving his Home Depot rental truck onto a busy bike path and firing at a crowd. At least six people have been killed and 15 more have been injured. The incident occurred on the West Side Highway in Lower Manhattan, nearby Stuyvesant High School and the site of the World Trade Center. It comes just hours before New York’s annual Halloween parade, which attracts thousands to the area. “What happened was there was a car crash… he came out of one of the cars. He had two guns. He was running around Chambers [Street] and somebody started to chase him,” 14-year-old Stuyvesant student Laith Bahlouli told reporters. “I heard four to six gunshots – everybody starts running.” US police have described the incident as a terror attack, with reports suggesting the FBI has taken over the investigation. UPDATE: The death toll has risen to eight, according to a statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio. "This was an act of terror and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea about what was about to hit them. We know of eight innocent people who have lost their lives and over a dozen more injured. "We know that this action was intended to break our spirit, but we also know New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence." The suspect allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic) during the incident. More to come.

Legal

ISIS makes chilling threat against Prince George

Islamic State extremists have targeted Prince George in a chilling new threat against the UK, saying, “Even the royal family will not be left alone.” The ISIS fanatics allegedly posted a photo of the future king on encrypted instant messaging app Telegram alongside the young prince’s school address and the terrifying comment, “School starts early”. It’s also believed the message contained words from a jihadi song, which translates from Arabic to: “When war comes with the melody of bullets, we descend on disbelief, desiring retaliation.” Telegram has been described as a “breeding ground” for terrorists after it was revealed that extremists had been using the app to spread propaganda in the time leading up to the 2015 Paris attacks. “Now we are seeing explicit threats,” internet surveillance expert Barry Spielman told the Daily Star. “It seems that as IS continues to lose ground in Syria and Iraq, it has stepped up its threats to hit the West.” It’s not the first threat against the royal family – the Queen was targeted <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/determined-queen-defy-isis-terror-6252715" target="_blank">in 2015</a> and just last month, ISIS challenged Prince Harry to come and fight them. “Why don’t you come here and fight us if you’re man enough, so that we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire?”

International Travel

Passengers' terror as AirAsia flight plunges 20,000 feet in mid-air emergency

An AirAsia flight from Perth to Bali has plunged 20,000 feet in a mid-air emergency, causing chaos on board as passengers began fearing for their lives. Flight QZ535 was forced to turn back to Perth Airport on Sunday morning after a technical issue caused the cabin to lose pressure, just 25 minutes into its flight, Oxygen masks dropped and passengers were told to get into brace position as the plane plunged from 32,000 feet to 10,000 feet. <img width="306" height="455" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/15/10/455AEE1100000578-4981868-image-m-13_1508058631790.jpg" alt="Total panic: Passengers were forced to put on oxygen masks when the cabin lost pressure mid-air (pictured)" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-bf6e03d6e7d8ed6e"/> Clare Askew, among the 145 passengers on board, said the reaction of the airline’s crew made the ordeal much more terrifying than it perhaps needed to be. “The panic was escalated because of the behaviour of staff who were screaming, looked tearful and shocked,” she told <a href="http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/airasia-bali-flight-returns-to-perth-after-midair-emergency/news-story/5df82a86e8825ada020da66ca87e07e2" target="_blank">Perth Now</a>. “Now, I get it, but we looked to them for reassurance and we didn’t get any, we were more worried because of how panicked they were.” A passenger named Leah told <a href="http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/10/15/19/16/air-asia-flight-forced-to-turn-back-after-terrifying-midair-emergency" target="_blank">Nine News</a>: “I actually picked up my phone and sent a text message to my family, just hoping that they would get it. We were all pretty much saying goodbye to each other. It was really upsetting.” Leah said the cabin crew were panicking but left passengers in the dark as to what was happening. “One of the stewardesses started running down the aisle and we thought, ‘why is she running?’ And then the masks fell down and everybody started panicking. Nobody told us what was going on,” she said. Tracy, who was travelling with son Jayden, said: “My son said he didn’t want to get on another flight but I’ve assured him it can’t happen twice in a row. It’s really put me off flying. I fly every year on AirAsia.” The plane landed safely in Perth and passenger flights were rescheduled. AirAsia said its engineers at Perth Airport were investigating the aircraft. “The safety of our guests is our utmost priority,” the airline said in a statement. “AirAsia Indonesia apologises for any inconvenience caused.”

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Travel

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Why is the Sydney church stabbing an act of terrorism, but the Bondi tragedy isn’t?

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Kochie breaks silence on Lindt Café siege terror

"Sheer terror": Pensioner slapped with five-figure government fine

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London terror attack: Man shot dead after stabbing rampage

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ISIS makes chilling threat against Prince George

Passengers' terror as AirAsia flight plunges 20,000 feet in mid-air emergency

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