Islamic State-linked Suhayra Aden arrives back in New Zealand

Suspected terrorist Suhayra Aden has arrived back in New Zealand, TVNZ understands.

Aden and her two young children had been in immigration detention in Turkey since Aden was arrested crossing the border from Syria earlier this year and accused of being linked to Islamic State.

Turkey, which has dropped charges against her, asked for New Zealand to repatriate her after Australia revoked her citizenship. Aden had previously held dual New Zealand-Australian citizenship. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in July the Government had agreed to resettle Aden and her children to New Zealand.

TVNZ reports Aden's flight touched down in New Zealand on Saturday morning with Aden accompanied by police.

Police told Newshub: "Police do not comment on operational matters, and Police will not be commenting on timings or arrangements made for the family's return."

Ardern has previosuly said New Zealand is not able to remove the Aden's citizenship and leave them stateless, and as New Zealand citizens, this country is the only place where they can currently legally reside.

"Extensive contingency planning has been underway involving the police and several other agencies and the Government wants to be as upfront with people as it can be about the planned return.

"Planning by agencies has been two-fold - to ensure all appropriate steps are in place to address potential security concerns and to have the right services in place to support reintegration, with particular focus on the wellbeing of the children."

Aden's lawyer, Deborah Manning, has been reported by Stuff as saying that the woman is "looking forward to being in New Zealand and giving her children an opportunity at living here and integrating, and really wishes to have privacy for them to allow them to settle in here and come to terms with everything they have been through".   

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