New Zealand reveals knife attacker's identity, tried to deport him several times

The Auckland attacker has been identified as Ahamed Aathil Mohamed Samsudeen. He came to the attention of the police and security services in 2016 after he expressed sympathy for militant attacks, violent war-related videos and comments advocating violent extremism.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand has tried for years to deport the knife-wielding militant who wounded seven people at a mall in Auckland last week, the government said after it released more details on the attacker following the lifting of a court suppression order. Court documents made public on Sunday named the attacker as Ahamed Aathil Mohamed Samsudeen, 32, a Tamil Muslim from Sri Lanka. He had arrived in New Zealand 10 years ago on a student visa seeking refugee status, which was granted in 2013. Samsudeen came to the attention of the police and security services in 2016 after he expressed sympathy on Facebook for militant attacks, violent war-related videos and comments advocating violent extremism.