A Member Loyal To The Islamic State In Iraq And The Levant (ISIL) Waves An ISIL Flag In Raqqa.
A member loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) waves an ISIL flag in Raqqa June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

A radicalisation expert has claimed New Zealand's security may be threatened if the government decides to join the fight against the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Amarnath Amarasingam, foreign fighters and radicalisation expert, said there was a risk that ISIS fighters or supporters might carry out attacks in New Zealand if the country would get involved in Iraq.

As reported in Radio NZ, ISIS has attempted to take credit for the two separate attacks in Canada where two soldiers were killed. A gunman shot a soldier who was guarding a war memorial. The attacker hijacked a car and crashed it into the Parliament building where he fired more shots.

The man was recently identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. The Canadian citizen was eventually brought down by police. Earlier in the week, a soldier died because of a hit-and-run incident. Canadian authorities believe both incidents were linked to Canadian citizens who had been converted to Islam.

Amarasingam believes terrorist attacks could also happen in New Zealand. He said it was possible for young and radicalised Muslims to adopt an extremist view and attack their homeland. Labour Defence spokesperson Phil Goff echoed the same sentiment when he said that New Zealand's possible involvement in Iraq might increase the risk of a terrorist threat.

Goff thinks the greatest threat to the country's security was an overreaction which may result in the marginalisation of Muslim communities. In reaction to the Canadian parliament attack, Goff suggested that security guards in the parliament should have access to guns contained in a big box.

Meanwhile, local media reports that New Zealand's Parliamentary Service has been reviewing security measures in the wake of the Canada attacks. Extra security measures were temporarily established in Wellington. Only two doors served as the entry points to Parliament buildings.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had declared the security in public places must be taken seriously. He said while people may debate on whether the security guards at Parliament should have weapons access, there was also the risk that attackers might use them against the guards.