New Zealand arrests 17 in terror sweep

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- New Zealand police arrested 17 people on firearms charges Monday in the country's first sweep using powers under the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act.

The country's TV One News said the raids in Wellington, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Hamilton and Auckland were in response to a threat to the safety of New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, although her office wouldn't comment, the Wellington Dominion-Post reported.

The predawn raids reportedly targeted Maori, environmental and political activists, the newspaper said.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad said there was intelligence that the suspects had been conducting and participating in training camps involving the use of firearms and other weapons such as Molotov cocktails and more serious terror-related charges could be filed against the men and at least one woman detained.

"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," Broad said.

Broad said the training camps didn't have any apparent international connections, the newspaper said.