A shooting occurred in downtown Auckland on Thursday July 20. A man entered a building under construction before shooting several employees. The report shows three dead, including the assailant, who was shot dead by the police. The shooting took place on the same day as the opening of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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With our correspondent in Wellington, Richard Tindiller
As New Zealand opens this Thursday, July 20, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a competition it co-organizes with Australia, a shooting plunges the country into turmoil. A man broke into a building under construction shortly after 7 a.m. local time in downtown Auckland, in the north of the country. He then opened fire on several people who were on different floors of this building. According to the workers, the shooter was an employee of this construction site.
The police and the specialized intervention brigades quickly invested the building before neutralizing the assailant. The event took place just a few meters from the fan base located in Auckland for this Women’s World Cup.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has canceled his trips to speak in parliament. He assured that this event was isolated and that it did not threaten national security. He also said the shooter’s motives remain unknown at this stage.
The inaugurations for the World Cup and the opening match at Eden Park in Auckland, which pits New Zealand against Norway, will be held as planned. The authorities nevertheless intend to strengthen security around this World Cup.