https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6816003/Expert-slams-New-Zealand-author...'A catastrophic failure of intelligence': Terror expert slams New Zealand authorities and says it was 'unbelievable' the Australian shooter was not on its watchlist
Joe Siracusa finds it 'unbelievable' that shooter wasn't on terror watchlists
Global security expert says New Zealand and Australia have questions to answer
He questions why charged shooter Brenton Tarrant was able to be broadcasted
Security expert Paul Buchanan believes authorities were too busy watching ISISA global security expert slammed New Zealand authorities over Christchurch's mosque massacre on Friday.
Joe Siracusa branded the attack that killed 49 people a 'catastrophic failure of intelligence'.
Prof Siracusa told A Current Affair it was 'absolutely unbelievable' that accused gunman Brenton Tarrant wasn't being monitored.
'I wonder if he was on an Australian watchlist and they didn't send the file over to New Zealand,' he said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has since stated that the people arrested in relation to the attack were not on any terrorism watch lists.
Prof Siracusa wondered how Tarrant was able to broadcast his intentions on social media, including links to white supremacy groups and images of guns in the lead up to the attacks as well as releasing a 73-page manifesto.
He also raised his concerns over the fact that Tarrant wasn't a lone-wolf in the attacks and that he was working with other people and still wasn't reported.
Global security expert Joe Siracusa said that New Zealand and perhaps Australia had many questions to answer after labeling mosque massacre a 'catastrophic failure of intelligence'
'Every time the terrorists are successful, beginning from 9/11 to the current day, it means there's an intelligence failure,' he added.
These comments were mirrored by Security expert Dr Paul Buchanan in New Zealand, who said the prioritisation to prevent extremist Islamic ideologies left white supremacist group threats slip under the radar.
'[The Government] simply did not think a white supremacist could be capable of this and hence paid much less attention and red flags emanating from these guys,' he told Stuff.
'[The Government] certainly weren't complacent monitoring the Muslim community, but something has got to give in a world of finite resources.'
'If you're going to squeeze the balloon in one direction it is going to lose air in another ... we seem to have dropped the ball on violent white supremacists,' he added.
Prosecutors in Bulgaria have launched a probe into Tarrant's recent visit to the country.
He visited Bulgaria from November 9-15 last year claiming he wanted 'to visit historical sites and study the history of the Balkan country', according to Bulgaria's public prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov.
Tsatsarov said he hoped the inquiry would establish if this was 'correct or if he had other objectives'.
Turkish border authorities are also examining two trips by Tarrant to the country in 2016, CCTV footage capturing him walking through the airport in March, 2016.
A senior Turkish official says Tarrant spent an 'extended period of time in the country' across multiple trips.
He says the suspect may have also traveled to countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The official says an investigation is underway of 'the suspect's movements and contacts within the country'.
The New Zealand terrorism watch list is complied together by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Agency.
The list is made up of 30 to 40 people are seen as a potential threat to New Zealand's national security.
According to the report, the majority of names flagged during 2017-2018 were linked to ISIS.
Brenton Tarrant, 28, appeared in Christchurch District Court where he was charged with murder on Saturday, after he allegedly stormed two mosques, opening fire with a semi-automatic shotgun and a rifle on about 100 defenseless people attending Friday prayers.
Tarrant live-streamed the 17-minute attack on Facebook.
Another two people believed to have been involved in the attack remain in custody.
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