M.A.D. ‘terrorist hijack’ in Chch

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 1

M.A.D. ‘terrorist hijack’ in Chch

More than 100 policemen from throughout New Zealand, including the recently formed anti-ter-rorists squads and armed offenders squads, took part in an anti-terrorist exercise in Christchurch yesterday against Mascara Anti-Democratic “terrorists/’

Members of the anti-ter-rorist squads were flown from Auckland and Wellington to Christchurch yesterday morning after the “terrorists” (M.A.D. for short) “hijacked” an NAG aircraft at Christchurch Airport and took over the “Mascara Embassy” in Kilmore Street — the former teachers’ college.

Police spent most of the morning negotiating with the “terrorists,” who were holding three crew members and 15 passengers hostage aboard the hijacked aircraft at the airport and also had the “ambassador” and his staff at the “embassy.”

The two M.A.D. groups were demanding the release of three of their fellows from Paremoremo Prison and enough fuel to fly the aircraft to Norfolk Island.

Code-named "Operation Eyebrow,” the exercise finished at 3 p.m. yesterday. Anti-terrorist squad members from the North Island — there is one unit in Auckland, two in Wellington, and one in Christchurch — will fly home today after a debriefing. It is the first time they have worked together on a full-scale field exercise since their training. The squads were formed last year.

For the 40 members of armed offenders squads from the South Island, it was the culmination of a week-long exercise at Burnham Miltiary Camp.