Two people and gunman killed in Auckland shooting hours before World Cup match

Two people were killed and at least six others were injured following a shooting in Auckland, just hours before the opening match of the Women’s World Cup in the city. 

Police said the gunman, who is also dead, moved through a building construction site armed with a pump action shotgun and after reaching the upper levels, he “contained himself within the elevator shaft”.

“Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later,” Acting Superintendent Sunny Patel said, The Telegraph reports.

“What has unfolded is understandably alarming and we are reassuring the public that this incident has been contained and is an isolated incident.”

The shooting in the busy CBD street occurred ahead of the opening match of the ninth Women’s World Cup at Eden Park.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the tournament would proceed as planned and police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

“There was no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting and therefore no national security risk,” Mr Hipkins said during a televised media briefing.

There will be no change to New Zealand’s security threat level, he added.

Several streets in Auckland were cordoned off and all ferry services into the city were cancelled, while buses running through some areas of the city were detoured.

“This is a scary situation for Aucklanders on their Thursday morning commute to work. Please stay at home, avoid travel into the city centre,” Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said in a tweet.

Mass shootings are rare in New Zealand and sweeping gun laws were introduced after the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed and another 40 wounded.