A shooting in the center of Auckland, the most populous city in New Zealand, left three dead, including the shooter, Thursday, July 20, a few hours before the opening of the Women’s World Cup, which will take place as planned, the country’s authorities announced.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said there was no threat to national security and announced that the World Cup, jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia, would start on Thursday as scheduled.
“The national security threat level is not changed,” Mr. Hipkins said, assuring “police have neutralized the threat and are not looking for anyone else in connection with” the shooting. “The government has discussed with the organizers of FIFA [the International Football Federation] and the tournament will take place,” he added.
The shooting, which occurred Thursday morning at a construction site, also injured six people, including police officers. “The perpetrator moved through the building” firing “his firearm,” Acting Police Commissioner Sunny Patel said.
Author found dead in elevator
“Upon reaching the upper levels of the building, the man locked himself in the elevator shaft and our staff attempted to engage him,” he added. “Further shots were fired by the man and he was found dead a short time later,” according to Mr Patel. Two deaths have been confirmed at this stage, in addition to that of the attacker.
Law enforcement responded in “significant” numbers to the shooting and cordoned off the area, added police, who also deployed a helicopter. Local media showed footage of an injured policeman being helped into an ambulance.
“What happened is obviously alarming and we reassure the public that the situation has been brought under control and that this is an isolated incident,” Mr Patel said. He felt there was “no national security risk.” Police have asked people to stay away during the investigation.
Shocked but safe
National team staff and players currently staying in Auckland for the Women’s World Cup have expressed shock after the shooting occurred hours before New Zealand’s opening match against Norway at Eden Park, the city’s main stadium.
“New Zealand football is shocked by the incident in Auckland this morning,” FA NZ said, confirming that all squad and staff are “unharmed”. The Norwegian team’s hotel was near where the shooting happened, but its members were unharmed and “everything is calm in the team,” she said.
Norwegian captain Maren Mjelde said they were awakened by a helicopter and “a large number of emergency vehicles”. “At first we didn’t know what was going on, but eventually local TV and media kept us informed,” she said in a statement. “Everyone seems calm and we are preparing normally for tonight’s game. Then we may have to adapt if there are instructions from the authorities,” she added.
Defending champions USA, who are also based in Auckland for the tournament, also confirmed that “all of their players and staff are present and safe”. The United States team are chasing an unprecedented third straight world title and will face underdogs Vietnam to open their competition in Auckland on Saturday.
Mass shootings are rare in New Zealand and sweeping gun laws were introduced after the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre in which fifty-one Muslim worshipers were killed and forty others injured.
