Just hours before the Fifa Women’s World Cup is scheduled to begin in Auckland, New Zealand, a shooting in the city’s centre has claimed the lives of two individuals.
At 07:22 (19:22 GMT), a shooting on a construction site in the financial sector left the gunman dead along with six other persons, including police officers.
According to PM Chris Hipkins, the incident was not viewed as a terrorist act.
He assured them that the tournament would proceed as scheduled.
The prime minister stated that police had neutralised the danger and the public could be guaranteed that there was no ongoing risk despite the fact that no political or ideological motivation for the attack had been found.
He also said that the shooter had a pump-action shotgun with him when he arrived at a Queen Street construction site on Friday morning.
In order to save the lives of others, Mr. Hipkins commended “the heroic men and women of the New Zealand police who ran into the firing, straight into harm’s way.
The efforts of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing less than heroic in these kinds of situations, where things happen quickly.
All Fifa employees and football teams are safe and have been located, according to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. He had earlier advised people to stay at home and refrain from going into the city.
“I don’t recall something similar ever occurring in our lovely city. All Aucklanders have found this morning’s events heartbreaking and upsetting because we are not used to this, Mr. Brown stated on Twitter.
Fifa stated it was in contact with the New Zealand authorities and offered the families of the victims its “deepest condolences”.
“The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place,” it read.
In the city’s Eden Park, the first game will be played between New Zealand and Norway.
Grant Robertson, the minister for sport, announced that more police will be stationed nearby to reassure residents.
Australia and New Zealand are sharing the hosting duties for the ninth Women’s World Cup.
Police reported hearing gunshots inside the construction site, and the shooter allegedly went through the structure while continuing to fire.
Police then made an effort to talk to the man before he entered a lift shaft.
The man continued to shoot, and a little while afterwards, authorities claimed he was found dead.
Following the shooting, there was a considerable police presence, including armed officers, in the downtown area, which was close to the fan park and the waterfront.
Tatjana Haenni, the National Women’s Soccer League USA’s chief sporting director, is residing near to the scene of the incident.
She told BBC News that she awoke to the sounds of approaching police cars and was instructed to remain inside. “So far, we feel safe,” she remarked.
