By NICK PERRY and JENNA FRYER (Associated Press)
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — A gunman opened hearth on terrified staff on a building website in downtown Auckland early Thursday, killing two individuals hours earlier than New Zealand hosted the primary sport of the Women’s World Cup. The man was discovered lifeless, and authorities mentioned his motive gave the impression to be linked to his earlier work on the website.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins mentioned the capturing was an remoted act, and the FIFA match opened as scheduled with a sport between the house group and Norway, although with tighter safety and plenty of jarred in a rustic the place such assaults are uncommon. A big crowd, together with the prime minister, nonetheless confirmed up on the stadium, and a second of silence was held for the victims of the capturing, which additionally left a police officer and 4 civilians injured.
“I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat,” mentioned Hipkins. “This appears to be the action of one individual.”
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster mentioned the gunman was a 24-year-old who had a historical past of household violence and was serving a sentence of residence detention however had beforehand labored on the constructing website and had an exemption to take action. He mentioned the person’s motive gave the impression to be linked to that work.
The capturing started early within the morning, as the person, armed with a shotgun, moved by means of the unfinished constructing, firing at individuals as many fled or hid, Coster mentioned. The man then barricaded himself in an elevator shaft, and a SWAT-type group moved in.
“The offender fired at police, injuring an officer,” Coster mentioned. “Shots were exchanged and the offender was later found deceased.”
Coster mentioned it wasn’t but clear whether or not police had shot the person or he had killed himself. He mentioned the person didn’t have a gun license and so shouldn’t have been in possession of a firearm, although the shotgun used just isn’t on an inventory of banned weapons.
Hipkins praised police for arriving inside minutes of the primary emergency name.
“These kinds of situations move fast, and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic,” Hipkins mentioned.
The capturing occurred close to resorts the place soccer groups have been staying forward of the opening of the Women’s World Cup, which New Zealand is collectively internet hosting with Australia.
Armed law enforcement officials positioned an space in Auckland’s downtown on heavy lockdown, with streets cordoned off surrounding the harbor ferry terminal, which is standard with vacationers. Police ordered bystanders to disperse and informed individuals inside workplace buildings to shelter in place.
Norway captain Maren Mjelde mentioned her teammates had been woken up abruptly when a helicopter started hovering exterior the resort window.
“We felt safe the whole time,” she mentioned in a press release. “FIFA has a good security system at the hotel, and we have our own security officer in the squad. Everyone seems calm and we are preparing as normal for the game tonight.”
Team USA mentioned all its gamers and employees had been protected and accounted for. It mentioned the group was in touch with native authorities and continuing with its day by day schedule.
New Zealand has tight gun legal guidelines, imposed in 2019 after the nation’s worst mass capturing prompted a sea change in attitudes towards weapons. In that assault, a shooter killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques throughout Friday prayers.
The prime minister on the time, Jacinda Ardern, vowed to ban most semiautomatic weapons inside a month and he or she succeeded, with solely a single member of Parliament voting towards the ban.
A subsequent buyback scheme noticed gun house owners hand over greater than 50,000 of the newly banned weapons to police in alternate for money.
Jennifer Deering, a vacationer from Orlando, Florida, mentioned she was initially shocked to be taught of the capturing after a tour information had beforehand assured her that Auckland “was very safe here, other than some petty thieves.”
Then she went about her day.
“It’s sad that it’s normal for us (Americans) to see something like this on the news,” she added.
Coster mentioned the officer who was shot was taken to a close-by hospital in crucial situation, had stabilized, and was anticipated to endure surgical procedure. He mentioned the others had accidents starting from reasonable to crucial. It wasn’t instantly clear if all these injured had been shot.
“I want to acknowledge that this has been a shocking and traumatic event for those people who came to work and found themselves in the middle of an armed emergency,” Coster mentioned. “Thankfully, many people were able to escape the building, but I know for those who hid or remained trapped, this was a terrifying experience.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino mentioned that he and Secretary-General Fatma Samoura had met with New Zealand Sports Minister Grant Robertson following the capturing to debate safety preparations for the match.
Tourism New Zealand canceled a media welcome get together that was to have been held Thursday afternoon at a location throughout the cordoned-off space downtown.
___
Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”