New Zealand police say Christchurch bomb scare not linked to mosque terror attacks

Police and the military bomb squad said they found "a suspected explosive device" and rounds of ammunition after swooping on a vacant lot just outside the city centre on Tuesday.

The New Zealand police forces said a 33-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday charged with possession of explosives, ammunition and offensive weapons.

"We are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident," detective inspector Corrie Parnell reiterated in the statement.

"There are no known links between the 33-year-old man and the Christchurch attacks on March 15," he added.

Media outlets in New Zealand named the man as Jay Michael Harding-Reriti and reported that the charges included possession of a handheld improvised explosive device, powergel explosives and detonator cord.

The culprit was reportedly remanded in custody until May 6, but further details of the case were suppressed at the request of police.

Christchurch remains watchful after the 15 March terror attacks in which a 28-year-old Australian massacred Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers in a livestreamed assault on Facebook.

The self-styled white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, is in a maximum-security prison in Auckland and has been ordered to undergo psychiatric tests.

The terror attack was described by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as "one of New Zealand's darkest days".

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