13 Sep 2011

PM happy at handling of man with alleged al-Qaeda links

6:04 am on 13 September 2011

Prime Minister John Key has defended the Government's handling of a New Zealand man who is alleged to have links with al-Qaeda.

Mark Taylor was deported from Pakistan in February 2009 and the Government says it is aware he has direct links to al-Qaeda.

He is now living in New Zealand under a number of restrictions.

Mr Key will not say what those restrictions are but says Mr Taylor has now had his passport returned.

He says he does not believe that, at the moment, Mr Taylor poses a risk to New Zealanders.

Mr Key says he was aware that Mark Taylor was at the Hamilton mosque when he visited it eight weeks ago.