A GUNMAN HAS KILLED TWO PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Deadly shooting in Auckland hours before Women's World Cup 


A gunman has killed two people in central Auckland, New Zealand, hours before the city opens its FIFA World Cup.

Six other people, including police officers, were injured and the shooter was killed in the incident at 07:22 (1922 GMT) ata construction site in the central business district. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the attack was not being treated as terrorism.

The tournament will go ahead as planned, he said. The public, he added, can rest assured that the police have removed the threat and that there is no further danger following the incident on Queen Street.

There was no political motive or ideology for the planned attack,the prime minister said. The shooter, he said, was armed with a handgun.

Mr Hipkins paid tribute to the 'brave men and women of the New Zealand Police who ran at gunpoint, at direct risk, to save other lives'. "These types of situations move quickly and the behavior of people who risk their lives to save others isnothing short of alarming," he added.

Football officials and Fifa members are all safe and have been found, according to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. I can't remember anything like this happening in our beautiful country. This morning's events are very sad and heartbreakingfor all Aucklanders because this is not what we are used to," Mr Brown said on Twitter. Fifaexpressed its "deepest condolences" to the families of the victims and said it was in contact with the New Zealand authorities.

"Partners involved in this eventare being advised of any potential impacts," he said. Theopening match between New Zealand and Norway will be played at the country's Eden Gardens.

Sports Minister Grant Robertson said there would be more police in the area to provide reassurance. The ninth World Cup is sponsored by New Zealand and Australia.

Before that, the mayor warned people to stay at home and avoid going to the city. Mr Brown said it was a "horrendous incident" in his country.

Police said they heard reports of someone firing a gun inside the construction site, and the shooter walked into the building and continued to fire. The man then entered the airport, and the police tried to arrest him.

The man was shot again and pronounced dead a short time later, police said. After the shooting, there was a heavypolice presence in the central business district, not far from the water park and park.

Tatjana Haenni, the director of sports for the National Women's Soccer League USA, is still near the scene of the shooting. He told the BBC that he woke up to the sound of an approaching police car and was told to stay inside. He said, "For now, we are comfortable."