Two people and an armed shooter killed in Auckland hours before a World Cup match

Police guard Auckland shooting site

Two people were killed and at least six injured in a shooting in Auckland just hours before the start of the Women's World Cup.

Police said the gunman, who is also dead, walked through the construction site armed with a pump-action shotgun, and upon reaching the upper floors, he «contained himself in the elevator shaft.»

«Further shots were fired at the man, and he was soon found dead,» she said. The shooting took place on a busy street in the Central Business District ahead of the opening match of the ninth Women's World Cup in Eden Park.

Photo: Reuters Police interview construction workers Photo: New Zealand Herald

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the tournament will proceed as planned and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

< p>«No political or ideological motive for the shooting was identified and therefore there was no threat to national security,» Mr Hipkins said during a televised media briefing.

He added that the level of threat to New Zealand's security would not change.

The hotel of the Norwegian national team was not far from the place where the shooting took place. The team said they were unharmed and «everything is calm in the squad.»

Captain Maren Mjelde said the players were woken up by a helicopter and «a large number of ambulances.»

«At first we didn't know what was going on, but eventually there were updates on TV and local media,» she said.

“We felt safe all the time. FIFA has a good security system at the hotel and we have our own security officer on the team.

“Everyone seems to be calm and we are preparing for today's game as usual. Then we may have to adapt if there are any instructions from the authorities.»

Norway will host New Zealand at City Park Eden after the opening ceremony later on Thursday.

Members of the Philippines women's soccer team walk towards their team bus after the shooting. Photo: AP

The Italian team's training was postponed as the players were unable to get out of their hotel, while the US team said all its players and staff were safe and secure.

Douglas Emhoff, husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris and head of the presidential delegation to New Zealand to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup, was safe, the US embassy said.

>Several streets in Auckland were about are chained, all ferries to the city have been canceled, and buses passing through some areas of the city have taken a detour.

“This is a dire situation for Aucklanders who commute to work on Thursday mornings. Please stay at home and avoid traveling downtown,” Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown tweeted.

Mass shootings are rare in New Zealand, and sweeping gun laws have been introduced since the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, when 51 Muslim worshipers were killed and 40 others injured.