Two folks have been killed and 6 wounded, together with a police officer. The gunman was discovered useless a short while later after a standoff with armed police.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins mentioned preliminary investigations indicated that there wasn’t any political or ideological motivation to the taking pictures, and there was “no nationwide safety threat.” He mentioned officers have been in “common contact with FIFA and they’re continuing as deliberate.”
Gun-related violence is uncommon right here and gun controls are strict. New Zealand additional tightened gun legal guidelines in 2019, lower than 24 hours after an Australian man opened hearth at two mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 worshipers with weapons that included an assault rifle.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown mentioned he was “shocked and saddened” by the incident and expressed sympathy to the households of the 2 victims.
“What we all know is that that is an remoted incident,” he mentioned. This seems to be the act of 1 particular person, this was not a risk to nationwide safety, nor was it in any manner associated to the FIFA Girls’s World Cup Occasion.”
The World Cup will start Thursday with a sport between New Zealand and Norway, beginning at 7 p.m. native time.
The U.S. staff, which is staying at a resort close to the development website the place the taking pictures came about, was unaffected and sport preparations have been continuing as deliberate.
“Concerning the incident in downtown Auckland, all of our USWNT gamers and employees are accounted for and protected,” U.S. Soccer wrote on Twitter. “Our safety staff is in communication with native authorities and we’re continuing with our every day schedule.”
Concerning the incident in downtown Auckland, all of our USWNT gamers and employees are accounted for and protected. Our safety staff is in communication with native authorities and we’re continuing with our every day schedule. https://t.co/m1ziO6j8c5
— U.S. Soccer Comms (@ussoccer_comms) July 19, 2023
The Norwegian staff was additionally protected, the native information website Stuff reported.
Norway captain Maren Mjelde mentioned the staff heard the police arrive on the scene however didn’t know what was happening till seeing the information on New Zealand media web sites.
About 7:30 a.m. native time, the gunman entered the development website on decrease Queen Avenue, close to a principal practice station and ferry terminal, in addition to motels and a well-liked mall. He fired pictures as he made his manner up by means of the constructing, police mentioned.
“This has been a really grim morning for us,” Hipkins mentioned. “There isn’t a ongoing threat right here.”
The development website is near the Cloud fan zone, which opened Thursday morning and can present Thursday night time’s sport on an enormous display.
Maia Jackman, a former New Zealand nationwide participant who was on the fan venue, described the taking pictures as a “tragedy” on a day many hoped would drum up a frenzy of pleasure and assist entice extra younger ladies to the game.
Greater than 40,000 folks, a sellout crowd, are anticipated at Eden Park stadium to look at New Zealand play Norway on Thursday night time. In Sydney, co-host Australia will play Eire.
