Helicopters, guns, attack dogs: New video shows raid on Dotcom home
With New Zealand authorities trying to overturn a ruling that a raid of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom's mansion was illegal, new footage has surfaced showing police storming the home with helicopters, semiautomatic weapons, and attack dogs, despite the fact that police admitted Dotcom posed a "low risk."
Video shot from a helicopter carrying Special Tactics Group officers (and posted online as part of a 3News report out of New Zealand) shows police storming Dotcom's resort-like home on the morning of January 20. Within seconds of landing, four armed officers ran to the main door, and were followed by vans and later a second helicopter. Dotcom, his pregnant wife, their three children, guests, and a dozen staff were accounted for and contained by authorities serving a warrant to Dotcom, who faces conspiracy, money laundering, and copyright charges in the US.
Oddly, officers weren't wearing full combat gear. In court footage, a police officer explained: "We wanted to match the threat level, in this case a low threat, with our dress. We made that conscious decision not to wear full tactical gear. It wasn't appropriate in these circumstances."
