New Zealand had been trying for years to deport an Islamic State-inspired Sri Lankan who involved in knife attack, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed, saying it was “frustrating” he was allowed to stay free.
Court documents made public on Sunday identified the suspect as Ahamed Aathil Mohamed Samsudeen, 32, an ethnic Tamil Muslim from Sri Lanka. He had arrived in New Zealand 10 years ago on a student visa seeking refugee status, which was granted in 2013, the Reuters news agency reported.
Ardern, who referred to Samsudeen as “the terrorist” and did not mention his name, was able to outline steps New Zealand had taken to try to deport him after the legal suppressions were removed late Saturday, AFP reported.
New Zealand police were following Samsudeen and shot him dead about a minute after he launched his attack on Friday after picking up a knife from a supermarket display. He had been convicted and imprisoned for about three years before being released in July.
