CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed there will be an inquiry into the country's intelligence agencies in the wake of Friday's mosque shootings in Christchurch.
Ardern said the inquiry would investigate if the agencies “could or should have known” about the alleged shooter Brenton Tarrant, or his activities prior to the attacks.
She said the inquiry would look at the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS), Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), as well as police, customs and immigration agencies.
The inquiry would also consider if the agencies were in a position to prevent the attack and whether there were issues around information sharing between agencies.
Ardern said no decisions had been made about who would lead the inquiry. The terms of reference were now being finalized.
Police welcomed the government's inquiry.
"It is important we learn any lessons we can from this tragedy," New Zealand's Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
SIS Director Rebecca Kitteridge also welcomed the inquiry.
"We embrace the opportunity to learn from this terrible experience," she said in a statement.
There were "important questions that need answers", Kitteridge said.
GCSB Director-General Andrew Hampton said the inquiry was important.
"It is of the utmost importance that the public are assured that GCSB acted lawfully and appropriately," he said.
Both intelligence agencies confirmed they had no prior intelligence on the accused gunman, Brenton Tarrant, before he allegedly gunned down 50 people at two Christchurch mosques on Friday.
New Zealand PM confirms intel agency inquiry after mosque attacks
New Zealand PM confirms intel agency inquiry after mosque attacks
- The inquiry would look at the intelligence service, communications security bureau, as well as police, customs and immigration agencies
- Heads of these agencies welcomed the inquiry to identify loopholes
Nobel Institute says Venezuelan leader Machado can’t give Peace Prize to Trump
WASHINGTON: The organization that oversees the Nobel Peace Prize is throwing cold water on talk of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado giving her recent award to President Donald Trump.
Once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it can’t be revoked, transferred or shared with others, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said in a short statement on Friday.
“The decision is final and stands for all time,” it said.
The statement comes after Machado said she’d like to give or share the prize with Trump, who oversaw the successful US operation to capture authoritarian Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. He is facing drug trafficking charges in New York.
“I certainly would love to be able to personally tell him that we believe — the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to, to give it to him and share it with him,” Machado told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday. “What he has done is historic. It’s a huge step toward a democratic transition.”
Machado dedicated the prize to Trump, along with the people of Venezuela, shortly after it was announced. Trump has coveted and has openly campaigned for winning the Nobel Prize himself since his return to office.
When it comes to governing Venezuela after Maduro’s capture, though, Trump has so far backed someone else: acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who served as vice president under Maduro.
He’s called Machado a “very nice woman” but said she doesn’t currently have the support within Venezuela to govern. He told Hannity on Thursday that Machado plans to visit next week and referred to a potential Peace Prize offering as a “great honor.”
A representative for Machado did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
