The FIFA Women’s World Cup will “proceed as planned,” New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Thursday after New Zealand police confirmed that two people died after a major incident in Auckland on the eve of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Police have also said that the offender is deceased and that multiple injuries have been reported. Hipkins confirmed it was an active shooter situation, and said there is no threat to national security.
Police have contained a serious incident that unfolded at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD this morning.
Multiple injuries have been reported and at this stage we can confirm two people have died. The male offender is also deceased. pic.twitter.com/bC0EWR7Tzr
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) July 19, 2023
A USWNT spokesperson confirmed that the entire U.S. group, whose camp is based in Auckland, was accounted for and safe. They added that their security team was in communication with local authorities and they would proceed with their daily schedule.
The incident happened at around 7am local time, with the focus on a building located close to the FIFA fan zone around the Queen Street and Quay Street area. At around 8am, a series of gunshots were heard.
The building itself had dozens of construction workers in it…
