Two people killed in Auckland shooting just hours before opening of Women’s World Cup
Two people have been killed and six injured in a shooting at a construction site in Auckland, New Zealand, just hours ahead of the opening match of the Fifa Womenâs World Cup.
Police said the shooting was ânot a national security riskâ and that the gunman was also dead.
The incident, in one of the busy streets in the city centre, came just hours ahead of the opening match of the ninth Womenâs soccer World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the football tournament would proceed as planned, adding that police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.
âThere was no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting and therefore no national security risk,â Hipkins said in a televised media briefing.
âThere will be an increased police presence obviously around Auckland to provide public reassurance, but the police have indicated that they donât think there is an ongoing security or safety risk.â
New Zealand Football tweeted: âWe can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe but we will not be able to comment further while details are still emerging.
âPlease refer to New Zealand Police for further information. Preparations for the game tonight at Eden Park will continue as planned.â
Italy teamâs training has been delayed as players cannot get out of their hotel, while the US team said all its players and staff were accounted for and safe.
Douglas Emhoff, the husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris and leading the presidential delegation to New Zealand to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup, is safe, the US embassy said.
Several streets in Auckland were cordoned off, all ferry services into the city cancelled while buses running through some areas of the city will be detoured.
Police said the gunman, armed with a pump action shot gun, moved through the building site and after reaching the upper levels, he âcontained himself within the elevator shaft.â
âFurther shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later,â police said.