Man charged after alleged axe attack on Parliament

January 13, 2021

A man allegedly wielded an axe to break numerous glass panels.

A man accused of wielding an axe to cause damage at Parliament was taken into police custody and charged this morning in Wellington.

Police were called around 5.25am after a witness reported spotting him outside the Beehive. 

The 31-year-old was taken into custody about 10 minutes later without incident, according to police. 

Authorities said he damaged some glass panels. However, he did not attempt to enter the building, they said. 

Police said the man is expected to appear in the Wellington District Court today for intentional damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

About 10 workers are cleaning shattered glass away from the main public entrance of the Beehive. 

A Parliament spokesperson said the entrance has been closed to allow for repair work to take place. 

Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said in a statement that security breaches at Parliament were rare.

"This morning's incident was unfortunate, but managed well by Parliamentary Service Security. 

"Parliamentary Service are now undertaking a full review of the incident and will assess whether changes to security measures on the parliamentary precinct will be necessary."

SHARE ME

More Stories