The Government’s cross-agency threat assessment panel warned early on that the occupation that took place at Parliament could turn violent.
Security experts were particularly concerned with a small number of people in New Zealand, especially sovereigns.
From their report:
“We assess the anti-authority nature of the protests continues to resonate strongly with PMVE [politically-motivated violent extremist] adherents, notably those who hold a violent interpretation of the Sovereign Citizen (SovCit) movement,” CTAG wrote. “Consistent with protests in Canada and Australia, SovCit and other pseudo-legal rhetoric has become increasingly prominent among protesters. Pseudo-legal theories have appeared particularly in regards to the legality of Covid-19 mitigation programmes, as well as police’s ability to lawfulIy interact with protesters…includ[ing] stated intent to arrest, try, and execute elected officials, including using otherwise legal provisions for ‘citizen’s arrests.”
Politically-motivated extremists who opposed pandemic measures were considered a potential terror threat.
Regarding sovereigns: “…the sovereign citizen rhetoric continued to warn of violent executions of prominent individuals. “Threatening rhetoric on social media – particularly pseudo-legal ‘trials’ of political figures and public servants – have been present throughout, and prior to, the ‘Convoy’ protest and continue to manifest following the police action.”
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