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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.
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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.
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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.��
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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.��
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Ardern said no decisions had been made about who would lead the inquiry. The terms of reference were now being finalized.��
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Police welcomed the government's inquiry.
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"It is important we learn any lessons we can from this tragedy," New Zealand's Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.��
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SIS Director Rebecca Kitteridge also welcomed the inquiry.
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"We embrace the opportunity to learn from this terrible experience," she said in a statement.
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There were "important questions that need answers", Kitteridge said.
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GCSB Director-General Andrew Hampton said the inquiry was important.
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"It is of the utmost importance that the public are assured that GCSB acted lawfully and appropriately," he said.
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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.��