Christchurch Shooter: Profile of an Unseen Terrorist

The man accused of the horrific Christchurch mosque massacres, Brenton Tarrant, was not known to security agencies in either Australia or New Zealand before the attacks, authorities have revealed. Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, faces murder charges following the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, which claimed at least 50 lives.

Unforeseen Threat Emerges

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described Tarrant as a “violent, right-wing extremist terrorist,” noting his alleged admiration for other white nationalist figures and his stated intent to incite fear and violence against Muslims. Questions are being raised about why Tarrant’s activities and online pronouncements did not trigger alarms within security services.

“There does seem to be a significant amount of information that was put online sometime before this attack took place, and it does not seem to have rung alarm bells in the right places,” commented Bob Parker, former mayor of Christchurch. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed Tarrant was not on any terrorist watchlist but has initiated a review to determine if he should have been.

Background and Radicalization Concerns

The Australian Federal Police stated Tarrant had no prior record of violent extremism or serious criminal behaviour in Australia. While he was briefly detained with others after the attack, authorities now believe he acted alone. Investigations are ongoing to assist New Zealand police.

Tarrant had spent minimal time in Australia over the past four years, with his record showing only minor traffic violations. He previously worked as a personal trainer. Following his father’s death in 2011, Tarrant reportedly used his inheritance to travel internationally, including to France, where he claimed to have witnessed an “invasion” of immigrants. His former gym owner and grandmother suggested significant changes occurred during his overseas travels, hinting at external influences or experiences that may have contributed to his radicalization.

Manifesto of Hate

In a lengthy document posted online before the attacks, Tarrant outlined a neo-fascist, anti-immigration ideology, lamenting what he perceived as the decline of European civilization. He identified himself as a “regular white man” and expressed admiration for figures like Candace Owens, stating her views pushed him further towards violence.

Experts characterize Tarrant as exhibiting an “unhealthy narcissism” common among terrorists, driven by a desire for infamy mirroring that of Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks. The ideology driving the attack is believed to have been imported from Australia, coinciding with access to assault weapons. While New Zealand has relatively lax gun laws compared to Australia, the rise of right-wing extremism online is a growing concern.

The Growing Threat of Far-Right Extremism

Concerns have been raised by anti-racism campaigners in Australia about the influence of far-right figures potentially touring the country, attracting significant online followings. Following the Christchurch attack, Australia revoked the visa of commentator Milo Yiannopoulos due to remarks he made about Islam.

Security agencies have reportedly been aware of the rising threat of right-wing extremism but have struggled with resource allocation, as it was often perceived as a less immediate danger. However, experts have warned that it was a matter of “if, not when” serious violence would erupt. A recent report highlighted that domestic extremists, predominantly white supremacists, were responsible for the majority of killings by extremists in the United States in the previous year, underscoring the global nature of this threat.