Auckland stabbings: calls for tighter terror laws after extremist allowed to roam free

Existing legislation meant the knifeman, who was known to police, could not be jailed despite evidence he was planning an attack

As New Zealand reels from the second terror attack in its recent history, a picture is emerging of an Islamic State-inspired extremist who was well known to the government, and whom extensive surveillance and control measures were not able to contain.

The man was shot dead by police after stabbing a number of shoppers at a supermarket in Auckland. After the attack, prime minster Jacinda Ardern said it was a terror attack" by a violent extremist" who was known by police.