New Zealand police are investigating alleged death threats that the country's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, received on Twitter in the wake of Christchurch mosque shootings, local media reported on Friday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) New Zealand police are investigating alleged death threats that the country's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, received on Twitter in the wake of Christchurch mosque shootings, local media reported on Friday.
The prime minister allegedly received a Twitter post containing a image of a gun and a caption reading "You are next," the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported. According to the newspaper, the sender's account was not suspended until 4:00 p.m. local time (03:00 GMT), 48 hours after the image had been posted. The media also reported that there was another post with the same photo and a caption "next it's you," with Ardern and New Zealand police tagged in it.
"Police are aware of a comment made on Twitter and are making enquiries," a police spokeswoman told the news outlet.
The newspaper also reported that the suspended Twitter account allegedly contained Islamophopic and racist content.
"We took action shortly after we received the first report on this Tweet, and our teams continue to work proactively to remove violative and illegal content from the service in relation to the Christchurch attack. We also continue to cooperate with law enforcement to facilitate their investigations as required," a Twitter spokesperson was quoted as saying by the outlet.
On March 15, shootings at two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch claimed the lives of 50 people and left dozens of others injured. Ardern immediately called the attack a terrorist act and voiced the need for stricter gun control measures in the country.
A 28-year-old Australian national has been since charged with murder and ordered to remain in custody until April 5.
