New Zealand supermarket group Countdown mentioned on Saturday it has removed knives and scissors from its shelves, a day following a man the authorities named an Islamist extremist stabbed six folks in one of the company’s retailers.
“Last night, we made the decision to temporarily remove all knives and scissors from our shelves while we consider whether we should continue to sell them,” mentioned Kiri Hannifin, Countdown’s basic manager for security.
“We want all of our team to feel safe when they come to work, especially considering the events of yesterday,” she mentioned in a media statement.
Other supermarket chains had also removed sharp knives from sale, nearby media reported.
Police shot dead the attacker, a Sri Lankan national who can’t be named due to court suppression orders. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern mentioned the man was inspired by the ISIS terrorist group and had been below continuous police surveillance.
Police had been following the man when he went into the Countdown supermarket in New Lynn mall in Auckland. They mentioned they had believed he had gone in to do some purchasing, but he picked up a knife from a show and began stabbing folks.
Police mentioned they shot him inside a minute of the start off of the attack. Three of the six victims are in vital situation.
Ardern mentioned the attacker had been below surveillance because 2016 since of his assistance for a violent ideology inspired by the Islamic State. By law the man could not be kept in prison, so he was getting continuously monitored rather.
The government has sought an urgent lifting of the suppression orders so more specifics on the individual could be made public. Ardern is anticipated to address the media at 0200 GMT.