New Zealand Shooting: Hours before the Women’s FIFA World Cup, a gunman opened fire and killed two people at a construction site in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday. According to officials, the assailant was later shot dead by the police. At least four civilians and a police officer were also injured in the incident.
Police said the injured officer was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Other people’s injuries ranged from moderate to severe, but their exact nature was not immediately known. The incident took place near the hotels where Team Norway and other football teams are staying. After the incident, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said that the tournament would go ahead as scheduled.
‘Women’s FIFA World Cup will go as planned’
“Obviously with the FIFA World Cup starting this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland. The government has spoken to FIFA organizers this morning and the tournament will go ahead as planned. “I want to reiterate that there is no widespread national security threat. This appears to be the action of one person.” PM Hipkins said the shooter was carrying a pump-action shotgun. According to him, police arrived a minute after the initial emergency call and risked saving lives. “Situations like this move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,” Hipkins said.
Shooting took place on Lower Queen Street
Acting Superintendent of Police Sunny Patel said the man opened fire on Lower Queen Street at around 7:20 a.m. (local time). The man entered the building and started firing at people present there, Patel said. “Upon reaching the upper level of the building, the male had confined himself within the lift shaft and our staff attempted to engage him. “More shots were fired from the man and he was found dead a short time later,” Patel said in a statement.
The incident occurred as football teams and fans gathered in New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The opening match is to be held between New Zealand and Norway on Thursday.
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New Zealand banned assault weapons in 2019
It should be mentioned here that New Zealand banned assault weapons in 2019, weeks after a gunman killed 51 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch during the country’s worst mass shooting. In a subsequent buyback scheme, gun owners turned over more than 50,000 AR-15-style rifles and other assault weapons to police. The ban does not cover all semi-automatic weapons.
(with AP input)