Police ready to respond to possible threat

Police have contingency plans in place with respect to the terrorist

threats received in a recent letter to the New Zealand Herald said Assistant

Commissioner Jon White, Head of Police Counter Terrorism.



&#34Police routinely engage in contingency planning across a wide range of

potential events and plans have been updated in the light of the latest

threats,&#34 said Mr White.



The letter threatened demonstration of capability in relation to specific targets

linked to events in Iraq or at noon on 28 March 2003.



&#34The threat was made in the context of an escalation in Iraq. Since the war

started there has been no action to carry out the threat.



However, we should not be lulled into a false sense of security and people

need to continue to be on the lookout for suspicious activities and report them

to the Police if they have any concerns.&#34



Police have been working with a number of government agencies and private

sector organisations since the letters were received to ensure all reasonable

security precautions are being taken.



Police are still keen to hear from anyone with information that might lead

to the identification of the letter writer on 0800 THREAT -- 0800 847328 or

emailing the confidential tip line on the police website at www.police.govt.nz.

In the event of suspicious activity to call 111.