Bill English on fight against Isis: World dealing with group that believes 'killing is a moral obligation'

Bill English said New Zealand was lucky not to have any Kiwis caught up in the terror attacks. Photo / Getty Images

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says France is dealing with the "hard end" of a terror group that believes killing is a moral obligation.

He said New Zealand was very fortunate not to have any Kiwis caught up in the Paris terror attacks.

"It feels like it's on the other side of the world but then, I think everyone knows, this morning we were very fortunate there were no New Zealanders caught up in this incident," he told TV3.

"If the people who claimed responsibility for this are the ones who did it then you're working with a group who believe killing is a moral obligation. That's something new, savage and awful and I think in France they're seeing the hard end of what happens when these people get some energy and momentum."

He said the security threat in New Zealand remains low, but the Government would be looking at the possibility of raising it.

"It was raised at the end of last year to low, and it's always under review because that's what the security organisations are there to do and until now at least there didn't seem to be a reason to raise that security threat level but no doubt that's going to be discussed extensively over the next few weeks.

The business of beating Isis was very "messy and unpredictable", Mr English said.

He said people would have to wait and see whether the France attack would strengthen the resolve of New Zealanders in the fight against Isis.

"It's a very difficult threat to deal with...These people are a threat to New Zealanders anywhere, not just in New Zealand.

"There's no indication that it's becoming more likely. We would get concerned if and when there's more activity in Australia. We certainly hope there isn't."

The death toll from the Paris terror attacks has risen to 132, after three people died in hospital, Agence France-Presse reported.

'An organisation with global ambitions'

Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman told TV3's Paul Henry programme he was "not totally surprised" the attacks had taken place.

Isis had been clear that it was extending its operations and targeting countries like France since last year, he said.

"This is an organisation with global ambitions," Mr Patman said.

"It basically has declared war. It declares war on non-believers and either kills them or enslaves them. And this is the way it behaves in the territory that it has under its control and it has 6 million people under its control, so we shouldn't have any illusions about that," he said.

Mr Patman said Isis was a political challenge as well as a military one.

The Islamic Council of New Zealand says it "strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on innocent French and Lebanese citizens that have shook the world in the last few days".

"As followers of the Islamic faith, we find it repugnant and counter to all universal human values to shed innocent blood in such a brazen and despicable way," Dr Nasser Abdul Monim said in a statement.

"No true divine faith teaches violence, and we denounce any individual and group that use such tactics to instil and reap terror within societies and disturb the routine of normal, functional lives.

"As expressed to the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, ICONZ is ready and able to cooperate with the Government at national and local level to counter the terrorism at grass root level by the eradication of religious illiteracy."