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Source: ONE News
Prime Minister John Key says four international terrorist groups have been designated as terrorist entities under New Zealand's Terrorism Suppression Act.
The groups are Somalia-based Al Shabaab, Spain's Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) of Colombia.
It is the first time New Zealand has designated entities not listed by the United Nations but the groups have been designated by a number of other countries under their own national procedures.
"The designations reflect New Zealand's strong commitment to the international campaign against terrorism. We are determined New Zealand is not a target of, or source of support for, terrorist activities," says Key.
"These four groups have engaged in a range of terrorist acts including the indiscriminate killing of civilians and assassination of political leaders."
The Prime Minister says any assets held by the groups and found in New Zealand will be frozen and it will be a criminal offence to deal with their property or make property and financial services available to them.
"While the risk of a terrorist attack in New Zealand is low, the designations are important to constrain the operations of terrorist groups around the world," says Key.
"It would not be in New Zealand's interests to be seen by terrorist groups as an easy place in which to do business."
