"Commissioner responds to media reports about Christchurch attack"

Statement – attribute to Commissioner Mike Bush:

Police are aware of certain media reporting this week suggesting that warning signs were ignored in the lead-up to the March 15 attack in Christchurch.

I am very keen to address these claims, and the incorrect perception that Police were aware of information which could have prevented the attack.

I fully understand that questions are being asked, and they are the very questions which the Royal Commission of Inquiry has been established to address.

While the media has no constraints on reporting these claims, the position for Police is very different.

We must be very careful about pre-empting matters which will be traversed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

This is why I have not participated in an interview on this subject this week.

Nevertheless I do wish to address these claims, and Police will be consulting with the Royal Commission of Inquiry to discuss whether we can quickly and fully respond, while maintaining the integrity of the Royal Commission process.

At this time I will just say that based on the information available to us at present, we are not aware of any information which could have prevented the attack.

END

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