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A threatened attack on the Otago university graduation ceremonies would have “surpassed” the terrorist massacres of March 15, court documents reveal.
A 22-year-old woman has been charged with threatening to carry out a firearms and explosives attack on students in Dunedin on December 7-8.
The threat was of a “greater magnitude than the massacres in the Christchurch mosque of March 15,” indictment records show.
hamish mcneilly / Things
Graduates on the University of Otago campus, hours after their graduation ceremony was canceled due to an online threat.
The woman was charged with threatening to harm people or property after being arrested on Friday.
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She was granted provisional removal of her name after appearing before Judge Peter Winter in Auckland District Court, she was released under strict conditions and in pre-trial detention without judicial declaration until 5 February.
The threats led to the postponement of eight graduation ceremonies, ruining the plans of thousands of students.
It is alleged that another person the defendant met on an Internet dating site also participated in the crime. That person has not been arrested, police said.
Stacy Squires / Stuff
Alabi Lateef in bloodstained clothing and other survivors of the Linwood Mosque shooting walk through the cordon.
Southern District Commander Superintendent Paul Basham said the arrest of the woman would provide a sense of relief to both the University of Otago and the wider Dunedin community.
“I would like to thank Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne, her team and the university community for the resilience they have shown during an incredibly difficult time,” he said.
“I also want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of both the investigation team and our staff members who have been working in the community to provide reassurance.”
Basham said police could not comment further as the matter was now before the courts.
Hamish McNeilly / Stuff
Southern District Commander Superintendent Paul Basham and University of Otago Vice Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne speaking at a news conference after the threats.
The threat was received on December 8, the same day that the royal commission of inquiry released its findings on the terrorist attack on March 15, 2019.
The eight graduation postponements at the University of Otago affected about 2,500 graduates, while other postponements at the Otago Polytechnic affected several hundred students.
Hayne said she was pleased that an arrest had been made for the security threat.
“I am very disappointed that these actions resulted in graduation ceremonies for more than 2,500 graduates and their whānau was postponed.”
However, he said it was too late to reverse the postponement of Saturday’s graduation ceremonies.
“However, we have many celebrations planned on campus and I hope graduates and their supporters join us in celebrating their academic achievements.”
Hayne said the university was very grateful for the effort that the police had put into the case.
“We are very grateful to the police for their hard work, expert guidance and support.”
Stuff understands that the woman has studied in Dunedin, but neither the University of Otago nor the Otago Polytechnic would comment on whether she was an alumnus.
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkin said it was a “relief” that police had made an arrest.
“Regardless of who is ultimately found guilty, I cannot understand what it takes for one person to inflict so much stress and disappointment on so many people,” he said.
Cyleste Fister, 24, was due to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences on Saturday.
She paid $ 1,100 for her Hawke’s Bay parents to travel to Dunedin, plus hundreds of dollars to purchase the badges and buy a new dress.
He made the difficult decision earlier this week to cancel his parents’ flights.
She was relieved that an arrest had been made, but was frustrated that Saturday’s ceremonies could not continue.
He had a question for the person accused of making the threat: “Why?”
After confirmation of the arrest, Otago announced that on Saturday there would be a graduation parade on the campus of the University of Otago.
