Baghdad on a Bad Day?

Violence Escalates in New Zealand

Warning: Stay Out of New Zealand!

Heavily armed paramilitary unit protects 20 firefighters trying to extinguish a house fire which was started deliberately in the city of Invercargill, one of New Zealand gang war zones, Saturday night. Last week the headquarters of another Invercargill gang were burnt to the ground. Image: The Southland Times/Stuff NZ. Image may be subject to copyright. See NewZeelend Fair Use Notice!

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws compares New Zealand gangs’ lawlessness to violence in Zimbabwe and says the army should be called in to crush them. “This is not Zimbabwe but in some parts of this country the rule of gang thugs resembles such.” He said. (Source)

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has called for police to be given greater power to deal with gangs after a feud between the Mongrel Mob and Road Knights escalated with another house going up in flames at the weekend. (Source)

A New Zealand University Expert: Violence will get a lot worse!

“In the Hawkes Bay region of the North Island, police say it is a matter of pure luck that they are not dealing with multiple murders after members of a local gang chapter tore apart a 21st birthday party, using knives, baseball bats and a machete.”

“Five partygoers were admitted to Hawke’s Bay Hospital with serious injuries after 100 people at the Hastings party were attacked by local members of The Mongrel Mob around midnight on Saturday.”

Hasting Mayor Lawrence Yule: The violence—the fifth such gang-related attack in three weeks against innocent people—is causing major concern among residents and law enforcers alike. (Source)

Caligula, the empress of New Zeelend: I assure you New Zealanders [and foreign tourists, no doubt] crime rates are actually dropping. [What you are seeing is, in fact, not the reality! You are imagining the whole thing!]