Armed police have swooped on properties around New Zealand in what appears to be an anti-terrorism operation.
Over a dozen people have been arrested on weapons charges and police say more charges are likely to follow.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad said they had taken enforcement action in connection with an operation they have had running over the course of 2006 and 2007.
"The operation has been looking at training camps involving individuals with firearms and other weapons," said Broad.
"The decision to take enforcement action was not made lightly. Based on the information and the activity known to have taken place, I decided it was prudent that action should be taken in the interests of public safety."
Over 300 police staff were involved at the peak of the operation on Monday morning. Many of them have since returned to their normal duties.
Police executed a series of warrants across the country seeking firearms and other items.
Broad said the search warrants were obtained under the Summary Proceedings Act to search for evidence of the Commission of Offences Against the Arms Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act.
It has been reported that more than a dozen people have been
arrested.
Other raids have taken place in Hamilton, Auckland, Palmerston
North and Wellington.
Broad says police will be gathering and assessing all available evidence before making a decision on whether any of those arrested on Monday will be charged under the Terrorism Suppression Act.
Government briefed
Prime Minister Helen Clark says the government was briefed last week about the military style training camps in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Clark is refusing to be drawn into the issue but says the fact that training camps were there are all is odd to say the least.
She says she knew the raids and arrests were going to be
made on Monday.
