Just hours before New Zealand’s largest city hosts the opening game of the football Women’s World Cup, a shooter murdered two people and injured at least five others at a construction site in central Auckland on Thursday.
The prime minister of New Zealand declared that the shooter also passed away there, that there was no threat to the country’s security, and that the major competition will proceed as scheduled.
Early in the morning, the unidentified guy stormed the building with a pump-action shotgun, killing two people, injuring at least five others, and putting much of New Zealand’s largest city under lockdown.
One of those hurt was a police officer, who was taken to the hospital quickly. His state was described as steady.
The shooter’s method of death and motivation were not immediately apparent. Aucklanders had marked today’s date on their calendars as the beginning of a month-long football celebration that would represent their city and nation to the rest of the globe.
Instead, the sound of police sirens and helicopters thudding overhead roused them up.
Chris Hipkins, the prime minister of New Zealand, expressed astonishment and “deep sorrow” over the unusual mass shooting.
But he insisted the tournament, which is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, could go ahead.
“Aucklanders and those watching around the world can be assured that the police have neutralised the threat and that they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident,” he said.
Hipkins said the “assessment from officials is that there is no national security risk. There is no change to New Zealand’s national security threat level.”
“The government has spoken to FIFA organisers and the tournament will proceed,” he said. “New Zealanders’ safety, and the safety of our visitors, are our first priorities.”
A number of national soccer teams are in New Zealand’s largest city, including the United States squad, which said all its players and staff were accounted for and safe.
