Napalm bombs found in anti-terror swoop

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CAUSE FOR CONCERN? Police detain a man in Ruatoki. The Maori Party is questioning police tactics and evidence after a series of dawn raids by anti-terrorist squads around NZ.

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HOT SPOTS: A map shows where the police carried out raids and made arrests.

JOHN COWPLAND/Alphapix

SEARCH AND REMOVE: Police remove material from a Ruatoki bach where prominent activist Tame Iti lives. Iti was among people taken in by police during a major anti-terror operation.

JOHN COWPLAND/Alphapix

ON DUTY: Armed police at Ruatoki after a number of raids were carried out.

DAVID WHITE/Sunday Star Times

FACING CHARGES: Tame Iti, who was among the people facing arms charges after police raids, is seen at a Waitangi Day ceremony at Waitangi's lower marae in 2005.

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Napalm bombs, Molotov cocktails and military-style assault rifles were among an arsenal of weapons that prompted early morning police raids across the country yesterday.
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A bomb was detonated eight days ago in a guerrilla-style exercise at a training camp deep in the Urewera Range.

The activity led to raids with warrants citing the Firearms Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act.

Seventeen arrests were made.

Police say they have evidence of training camps in the eastern Bay of Plenty bush, after a year-long investigation that included bugging conversations, tapping cellphone calls and texts and video surveillance.

Maori activist Tame Iti was one of those arrested. He faces eight charges relating to the possession of firearms and Molotov cocktails.

Iti was sleeping in his Ruatoki bach when armed police burst in about 4am.

"The last time I saw Tame he was spreadeagled on the concrete with a gun at his head and a dog in his face," his partner said.

Yesterday evening the hamlet remained sealed off by armed police.

A source told the Sunday Star-Times that the alleged military operation was serious.

The Cabinet was fully briefed yesterday on the police operation, including the fact police had known napalm bombs were being developed and one had already been detonated.

It is understood police believed that each faction of those connected to the camps planned to hit targets specific to their own interests in coordinated attacks aimed at causing maximum chaos.

Search warrants were carried out in Wellington, Auckland, Whakatane, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Hamilton and Ruatoki. Most who appeared in court faced weapons charges, including possession of shotguns, semi-automatic weapons, Molotov cocktails and rifles.

There were reports that a specific threat was made recently against Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The prime minister would not comment, however, on any threat against her or any other politicians.

Miss Clark said she was briefed last week that the raids were going to take place. The Diplomatic Protection Squad was connected to the security operation.

"Police obviously believe there was enough information to move on."

Police Commissioner Howard Broad said the raids followed a year-long investigation discussed by a top secret terror and intelligence government group.

They had been carried out to minimise risk to lives and property.

"It's prudent action that I have authorised in keeping with the interests of public safety," Mr Broad said. "There was a significant risk."

Police had monitored activity at the alleged training camps for a year.

"It was military style activities that they were training for."

The number of people using the camps was in the "tens" and they had a range of motivations.

In Wellington, police smashed the door of a well known meeting place for activists early in the morning.

Two men and two women appeared in Wellington District Court charged with numerous offences under the Arms Act, many being joint charges with Iti.

A 53-year-old man was arrested in Palmerston North, jointly charged with nine others with unlawful possession of a rifle in mid-January.

He was also charged with seven others with unlawful possession of a firearm in late April.

In Auckland, five men including the well-known activist and close friend of Iti, Jamie Lockett, and a woman were held in custody on a number of firearms charges.

Lockett and Iti - who appeared in Rotorua District Court with a woman - were the only two not to have their names suppressed.

Iti's partner said the police were "scaremongering". Iti did run bush camps, but they were to help develop the identities of young people.

- © Fairfax NZ News