Police thwart kidnap plot in Wellington

By SCOTT INGLIS and AINSLEY THOMSON

A kidnapping plot was dramatically foiled last night when heavily armed police swooped on three men in central Wellington.

Witnesses reported hearing several loud bangs, which they thought were gunshots but police said were distraction devices.

The drama happened in lower Kelburn about 7.30pm before the kidnappers had the chance to move in on their intended victim, a middle-aged man.

"We foiled what we believe to be a well-planned kidnapping," operation head Detective Inspector Norm Cook said.

Police refused to give details about the intended victim other than to say he was not a political figure and was safe with family.

Police have identified a place where they believe the intended victim was to be held by the kidnappers.

The three men were arrested in the Botanic Gardens in Glenmore St.

One, a 33-year-old from Upper Hutt, will appear in court today on charges of attempted kidnapping and possession of a sawn-off shotgun.

Police have not yet charged the other men.

The arrests followed a major inquiry lasting nearly two weeks and involving about 50 officers, prompted by a tip-off.

No shots were fired but police seized a sawn-off shotgun.

Glenmore St residents reported hearing several loud bangs as the armed offenders squad used distraction devices while surrounding at least one man and a car.

William Bleakley, 18, said he was sitting down to eat his dinner when he heard what sounded like gunshots. "I actually thought the verandah was collapsing."

Instead, he saw four or five armed offenders squad members pointing their guns at a man lying on the road.

"They were yelling at the guy to stay down. We saw the guy lying down. He looked like he might have hurt his leg."

Another resident, Alexander Juriss, said he went outside after he heard a loud explosion. He heard a policeman say: "Put your hands up on the steering wheel."

Other neighbours thought there had either been a car accident or a power transformer had blown up.

The scene was surrounded by marked and unmarked police cars. In the middle was a maroon late-model Ford Falcon.

After about a quarter of an hour, the man got up and ambulance officers put a bandage on his leg.

Police confirmed one of the arrested men suffered bites from a police dog and needed medical treatment.

Police used a loud-hailer to warn residents to stay in their houses. Glenmore St, near the intersection with Orangi Kaupapa Rd, was cordoned off during the operation.

Police later took fingerprints from the Falcon and took away a black sportsbag that had earlier been lying on the road near the car.

Police spokeswoman Kaye Calder refused to comment on whether there was money in the sportsbag.

Mr Cook said: "I can't provide a lot more detail tonight as we're still questioning those arrested. We have however identified a location where we believe a person was to be held against their will."

He refused to reveal the location.

"A lot of behind-the-scenes work has been going on and there is still more to do."

Police have executed search warrants on residential properties in the Upper Hutt area and will continue examining the scene and the Botanic Gardens this morning.

This latest case follows the gunpoint kidnapping in April of Kahu Durie, the 8-month-old daughter of prominent Wellington lawyer Donna Hall and High Court Justice Eddie Durie. The kidnapper wanted a $3 million ransom.

Kahu was rescued by members of the police elite special tactics group from a Taumarunui farmhouse eight days later.

Terence Ward Traynor admitted he was the kidnapper and was jailed for 11 years.

Also in April, in Auckland, two Chinese men held a 6-year-old boy hostage for a $400,000 ransom after snatching him at knifepoint from his home. They were jailed for up to 16 years under home invasion sentencing provisions.