by AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — A man stormed a high-rise construction site in downtown Auckland early Thursday, shooting terrified workers and killing two people hours before New Zealand planned to host the first game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The gunman was found dead after a police shootout, during which an officer was shot. Four civilians were also injured.
The shooting occurred near the hotels where the Norway team and other soccer teams were staying.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the tournament ahead as scheduled.
“Clearly, with the FIFA World Cup kicking off tonight, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” Hipkins said. “The government spoke with the FIFA organizers this morning and the tournament will go ahead as planned.”
“I want to reiterate that there is no broader threat to national security,” he added. “This appears to be the action of an individual.”
The shooting rocked New Zealand, where active shooter incidents are rare, topping the country’s major news websites and broadcasts.
Hipkins said the man was armed with a shotgun, adding that police arrived within minutes of the first emergency call and ran into the danger to save lives.
“Situations like these move fast, and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,” Hipkins said.
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Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the gunman was a 24-year-old who had previously worked at the construction site and his motive appeared to be related to his work there.
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The man identified as the shooter had a history of family violence and was serving a sentence of house arrest, but had a waiver to work at the Queen Street site, Coster said.
The shooting began around 7:20 a.m. and the police soon invaded the area.
The shooter moved through the building without ending up shooting people, Coster said, as many workers fled or went into hiding. He then barricaded himself in an elevator shaft on the third floor, Coster said, where SWAT-type officers confronted him after securing the floors above and below.
“The offender fired at police and injured an officer,” Coster said. “Shots were exchanged and the offender was later found dead.”
Coster said it was not yet clear if police had shot the man or if he had committed suicide. He said the alleged shooter did not have a gun license and therefore should not have been in possession of a firearm.
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Outside, armed police have placed an area in central Auckland on tight lockdown, with streets cordoned off surrounding the port’s ferry terminal, which is popular with tourists. Police ordered passersby to disperse and told people inside office buildings to shelter in place.
The shooting occurred as soccer teams and fans were gathering in New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which the country is co-hosting with Australia. The opening match is scheduled to be played in Auckland on Thursday night, between New Zealand and Norway. Hipkins said that she was considering whether she would attend the game as scheduled.
Norway’s team captain, Maren Mjelde, said her teammates woke up abruptly when a helicopter began to hover over the hotel window.
“We felt safe all the time,” he said in a statement. “FIFA has a good security system in the hotel and we have our own security officer in the team. Everyone seems calm and we are preparing normally for tonight’s game.”
Team USA said all of its players and staff were safe and accounted for. He said the team was in contact with local authorities and was continuing with its daily program.
New Zealand banned most semi-automatic weapons in 2019, weeks after a man killed 51 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch during the nation’s worst mass shooting. In a subsequent buyback scheme, gun owners turned over more than 50,000 prohibited weapons to the police.
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Coster said the shotgun used in Thursday’s shooting is not on the prohibited weapons list.
“I want to acknowledge that this has been a shocking and traumatic event for those people who came to work and found themselves in the middle of an armed emergency,” Coster said. “Fortunately, many people were able to escape the building, but I know that for those who hid or were trapped, this was a terrifying experience.”
Coster said the officer who was shot was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, had stabilized and was expected to undergo surgery Thursday. He said the others had moderate to critical injuries. It was not immediately clear if all of the wounded had been shot.
Officials at Eden Park, where the opening match of the FIFA tournament takes place, said they were encouraging ticket holders to arrive early and there would be a heightened security presence at the venue.
Tourism New Zealand canceled a media welcome party that was to be held on Thursday afternoon at a location within the cordoned off area.
The shooting rocked New Zealand, where active shooter incidents are rare, topping the country’s major news websites and broadcasts.
Hipkins said the man was armed with a shotgun, adding that police arrived within minutes of the first emergency call and ran into the danger to save lives.
“Situations like these move fast, and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,” Hipkins said.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the gunman was a 24-year-old who had previously worked at the construction site and his motive appeared to be related to his work there.
The man identified as the shooter had a history of family violence and was serving a sentence of house arrest, but had a waiver to work at the Queen Street site, Coster said.
The shooting began around 7:20 a.m. and the police soon invaded the area.
The shooter moved through the building without ending up shooting people, Coster said, as many workers fled or went into hiding. He then barricaded himself in an elevator shaft on the third floor, Coster said, where SWAT-type officers confronted him after securing the floors above and below.
“The offender fired at police and injured an officer,” Coster said. “Shots were exchanged and the offender was later found dead.”
Coster said it was not yet clear if police had shot the man or if he had committed suicide. He said the alleged shooter did not have a gun license and therefore should not have been in possession of a firearm.
Outside, armed police have placed an area in central Auckland on tight lockdown, with streets cordoned off surrounding the port’s ferry terminal, which is popular with tourists. Police ordered passersby to disperse and told people inside office buildings to shelter in place.
The shooting occurred as soccer teams and fans were gathering in New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which the country is co-hosting with Australia. The opening match is scheduled to be played in Auckland on Thursday night, between New Zealand and Norway. Hipkins said that she was considering whether she would attend the game as scheduled.
Norway’s team captain, Maren Mjelde, said her teammates woke up abruptly when a helicopter began to hover over the hotel window.
“We felt safe all the time,” he said in a statement. “FIFA has a good security system in the hotel and we have our own security officer in the team. Everyone seems calm and we are preparing normally for tonight’s game.”
Team USA said all of its players and staff were safe and accounted for. He said the team was in contact with local authorities and was continuing with its daily program.
New Zealand banned most semi-automatic weapons in 2019, weeks after a man killed 51 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch during the nation’s worst mass shooting. In a subsequent buyback scheme, gun owners turned over more than 50,000 prohibited weapons to the police.
Coster said the shotgun used in Thursday’s shooting is not on the prohibited weapons list.
“I want to acknowledge that this has been a shocking and traumatic event for those people who came to work and found themselves in the middle of an armed emergency,” Coster said. “Fortunately, many people were able to escape the building, but I know that for those who hid or were trapped, this was a terrifying experience.”
Coster said the officer who was shot was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, had stabilized and was expected to undergo surgery Thursday. He said the others had moderate to critical injuries. It was not immediately clear if all of the wounded had been shot.
Officials at Eden Park, where the opening match of the FIFA tournament takes place, said they were encouraging ticket holders to arrive early and there would be a heightened security presence at the venue.
Tourism New Zealand canceled a media welcome party that was to be held on Thursday afternoon at a location within the cordoned off area.
