There is a realistic possibility of a terrorist attack in New Zealand and the most likely way that it could happen is a lone actor. That's according to the latest security assessment by our Intelligence Services. Andrew Hampton is the Director General at the SIS Hey Andrew Hi Heather, is the possibility of a terrorist attack like this more or less likely than it was last year.

There is a realistic possibility of a terrorist attack in New Zealand and the most likely way that it could happen is a lone actor. That's according to the latest security assessment by our Intelligence Services. Andrew Hampton is the Director General at the SIS Hey Andrew Hi Heather, is the possibility of a terrorist attack like this more or less likely than it was last year.

It is consistent with last year's assessment, which is there is a realistic possibility of a terrorist event. But the threat environment continues to evolve and one of the things that has changed over the last year is the increased prominence of what we call people with mixed unclear ones stable wider ideologies or motivations. So these are people who often young, radicalized online, fixated with violence. They may not have strong affiliations to a particular ideology, but they're looking for some thing to justify undertaking a.

It is consistent with last year's assessment, which is there is a realistic possibility of a terrorist event. But the threat environment continues to evolve and one of the things that has changed over the last year is the increased prominence of what we call people with mixed unclear ones stable wider ideologies or motivations. So these are people who often young, radicalized online, fixated with violence. They may not have strong affiliations to a particular ideology, but they're looking for some thing to justify undertaking a.

Violent act right And these kinds of people are very hard to stop, aren't they, because they act by themselves.

Violent act right And these kinds of people are very hard to stop, aren't they, because they act by themselves.

Well, fortunately, you know, we're talking about only a very small number of individuals who we know about, who we're concerned about, and we're keeping an eye on them. But yes, you're You're right. The risk with a self radicalized individual, they're likely to be acting alone. There won't necessarily be much intelligence warning, and they'll use capabilities that are readily at hand, such as knives or vehicles. That's one of the reasons why we've put this threat assessment out, so that the public know what the signs of someone who may be on that mobilization pathway looks like, and so they can spot those signs and raise their handful place. There's a range of range of things to look at, and we released a couple of years ago a report specifically on that. But part of it is people's online behavior. Part of it is individuals maybe looking at their own security, you know, how they obscure what they're doing. Sometimes it may be radical changes in behavior from people. It may be about how they espouse particular ideologies. So there are a range of things to look for. The key message we want to get across is if you know within your community, even within your family, you're concerned about someone because they may be engaging with extremist material, They may be talking about wanting to undertake some sort of act, They may be seeking to associate with people online of concern that you know, you do, you do raise that with us or with the police, you know, and in many cases, in most cases, you know, people who exhibit online behaviors don't end up taking undertaking a real world act, but sometimes they do.

Well, fortunately, you know, we're talking about only a very small number of individuals who we know about, who we're concerned about, and we're keeping an eye on them. But yes, you're You're right. The risk with a self radicalized individual, they're likely to be acting alone. There won't necessarily be much intelligence warning, and they'll use capabilities that are readily at hand, such as knives or vehicles. That's one of the reasons why we've put this threat assessment out, so that the public know what the signs of someone who may be on that mobilization pathway looks like, and so they can spot those signs and raise their handful place. There's a range of range of things to look at, and we released a couple of years ago a report specifically on that. But part of it is people's online behavior. Part of it is individuals maybe looking at their own security, you know, how they obscure what they're doing. Sometimes it may be radical changes in behavior from people. It may be about how they espouse particular ideologies. So there are a range of things to look for. The key message we want to get across is if you know within your community, even within your family, you're concerned about someone because they may be engaging with extremist material, They may be talking about wanting to undertake some sort of act, They may be seeking to associate with people online of concern that you know, you do, you do raise that with us or with the police, you know, and in many cases, in most cases, you know, people who exhibit online behaviors don't end up taking undertaking a real world act, but sometimes they do.

On the spying, the report says that you guys busted a unit gathering info for a foreign intelligence service, and then you send a message to them to stop. Did they stop?

On the spying, the report says that you guys busted a unit gathering info for a foreign intelligence service, and then you send a message to them to stop. Did they stop?

They definitely took notice. What what we try and do is make very clear to those countries that are undertaking that type of activity that we know what they're up to, that we are monitoring them, and that it is said it may not be a legal activity, but it is activity that's inconsistent with our values and our national interest and for them to cease doing it. And as you would expect, they don't like that very much. Sometimes though, it just leads to them trying to you know, obscure their their activities more. But in that particular our case, yesday took notice.

They definitely took notice. What what we try and do is make very clear to those countries that are undertaking that type of activity that we know what they're up to, that we are monitoring them, and that it is said it may not be a legal activity, but it is activity that's inconsistent with our values and our national interest and for them to cease doing it. And as you would expect, they don't like that very much. Sometimes though, it just leads to them trying to you know, obscure their their activities more. But in that particular our case, yesday took notice.

Andrew. Thank you, I really appreciate you having a chat with us. Andrew Hopton, Director General of the SIS. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news talks 'd B from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

Andrew. Thank you, I really appreciate you having a chat with us. Andrew Hopton, Director General of the SIS. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news talks 'd B from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio