New Zealand slams Australia in row over terror suspect

ANKARA

New Zealand's premier on Tuesday said a woman identified as a terrorist by Turkish authorities should have been deported to Australia.

The 26-year-old suspect, who was a dual citizen of New Zealand and Australia until last year, is facing deportation after being caught on Monday while illegally entering Turkey from Syria with two children.

Identified only by the initials S.A., the suspect was wanted by Interpol with blue notice, which is issued to collect additional information about a person's identity, location, or activities in relation to a crime.

According to the New Zealand-based Otaga Daily Times newspaper, New Zealand authorities had raised concerns with their Australian counterparts that in the event of her detention or return, which country should be responsible for her.

On Tuesday, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern slammed Canberra for canceling the citizenship of the suspect, forcing New Zealand to shoulder the responsibility for the woman, who has not lived in the country since she was six.

Stressing that the suspect left for Australia at the age of six, Ardern said the woman obtained Australian citizenship and traveled to Syria on an Australian passport.

"New Zealand frankly is tired of having Australia exporting its problems. But now there are two children involved, so we have to resolve this issue with those two children in mind," she added.

Her remarks came after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said legislation passed in his country's parliament automatically cancels a dual citizen's citizenship accused of being engaged in terrorist activities.

Turkey was one of the first countries to declare Daesh, also known as ISIS, as a terror group in 2013.

The country has since been attacked by Daesh/ISIS terrorists multiple times. The terror group has carried out at least ten suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed attacks, killing 315 people and injuring hundreds more.

In response, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.