Two people are dead and numerous wounded after a gunman opened fire at a New Zealand construction site Thursday, on the eve of the Women’s World Cup.
The shooter was also killed, New Zealand authorities said.
“Police have contained a serious incident that unfolded at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD this morning,” police said on Twitter. “Multiple injuries have been reported and at this stage we can confirm two peope have died. The male offender is also deceased.”
Reports came in at 7:22 a.m. local time of someone “discharging a firearm” inside a construction site, police said after cordoning off the building and surrounding streets. The man continued through the site, shooting as he went, before walling himself inside the elevator staff.
“Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later,” police said. “What has unfolded is understandably alarming and we are reassuring the public that this incident has been contained and is an isolated incident. We can also advise that this is not a national security risk.”
An investigation is ongoing, authorities said.
The shooting happened just as the Women’s World Cup soccer tournament is set to get under way, not far from Team Norway’s hotel.
New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the tournament would go ahead.
“Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” Hipkins said. “The government has spoken to FIFA organizers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned. I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat. This appears to be the action of one individual.”
With News Wire Services