A tragic shooting in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand, has claimed the lives of two people and left six others injured, including police officers. The incident occurred at 07:22 local time (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district, just hours before the city is set to host the opening match of the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Authorities confirmed that the gunman, armed with a pump-action shotgun, is also dead following the incident on Queen Street. While Prime Minister Chris Hipkins assured the public that the attack is not being treated as an act of terrorism, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
PM Hipkins praised the bravery of the New Zealand police officers who risked their lives to neutralize the threat and save others during the attack. He emphasized that the authorities had acted swiftly, and there is no ongoing risk to the public.
The Mayor of Auckland, Wayne Brown, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and shared the city’s distress over the unprecedented incident. He assured that all Fifa personnel and football teams are safe and accounted for.
The Women’s World Cup will proceed as planned, with the opening match scheduled between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park stadium. Sport Minister Grant Robertson confirmed that extra police presence would be deployed in the area to reassure the public.
Fifa conveyed its deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and has been coordinating with New Zealand authorities to support the participating teams affected by the incident.
Details of the shooting indicate that the gunman discharged a firearm inside the construction site before moving through the building and continuing to fire. He eventually barricaded himself within an elevator shaft, leading to police attempts to engage with him. Despite these efforts, further shots were fired, and the gunman was later found deceased.
Authorities are treating the shooting as an isolated incident, and an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
New Zealand and Australia are jointly hosting the ninth Women’s World Cup, which is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The security measures have been heightened, especially at the opening venue, Eden Park Stadium, to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.
