New Zealand police and intelligence agencies have issued a warning to businesses, schools, and venues to remain vigilant against the risk of potential lone-wolf extremist attacks in crowded spaces.
While officials stress that the overall threat level remains low, they say organisations hosting large gatherings should strengthen security through measures such as fencing, lighting, cameras, bollards, screening equipment, security staff, and even explosive-detection dogs where necessary, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Police today released new guidance as part of Protecting Our Crowded Places from Attack, the country’s first national strategy aimed at preventing and managing mass-casualty events, developed after the Christchurch mosque attacks.
The strategy has been crafted over several years by a cross-government group of nine agencies, led by the Police in partnership with the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
According to The New Zealand Herald, Andrew Hampton, Director-General of the SIS, said the most plausible threat scenario remains a “lone actor who has radicalised online” and could attack without prior intelligence warnings. “Any attacker is most likely to use easily accessible weapons such as knives or a vehicle,” Hampton said. He added that while New Zealand’s terrorism threat level is officially “low,” an attack is still considered a “realistic possibility.”
Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson emphasised that crowded venues face unique risks. “Remember three simple words: Escape. Hide. Tell. That means moving quickly and quietly away from danger, staying out of sight, silencing your phone and when it is safe to do so, calling Police on 111,” as reported by The New Zealand Herald.
The strategy highlights vulnerabilities in places such as schools, shopping centres, transport hubs, festivals, sporting events, churches, theatres, and busy city streets. It also provides practical resources, including tools to assess venue attractiveness to attackers, methods for detecting hostile reconnaissance, and guidance for carrying out detailed security audits.
The warning follows the NZSIS’s recent annual Security Threat Environment Report, which noted a “deterioration in the threat environment” and described New Zealand as facing its most complex national security challenges in recent times.
Chris Kumeroa, chairman of the Crowded Places Security Advisory Group, said he hopes the new “Escape, Hide, Tell” message becomes as ingrained in public awareness as “Drop, Cover, Hold” is for earthquakes, The New Zealand Herald reported.
The first phase of the strategy was released in 2020, but today’s comprehensive launch marks a significant step in preparing New Zealand for evolving security risks.
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