Two people have been killed and six injured after a shooting at a high-rise construction site in downtown Auckland yesterday morning, hours before the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the gunman was also dead and there was no national security risk or increase to the national threat level.
Visiting the scene yesterday afternoon, he said that the World Cup would go ahead as planned and people should feel safe to attend the matches.
Photo: AFP
He added that the shooting was a “standalone incident,” but fans would see an enhanced police presences in and around sports venues.
In a televised speech yesterday evening, Hipkins said the whole nation was in mourning.
“The victims went to work this morning as they do every morning, but they won’t be coming home tonight,” he said. “The trauma of this event will still be significant.”
The shooting began at a building site on Queen Street, Auckland’s main thoroughfare, at about 7:20am, when police received reports of gunfire.
Police said the gunman, armed with a pump-action shotgun, moved through the building site firing and after reaching the upper levels “contained himself within the elevator shaft.”
“Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later,” police said.
A police officer was shot and injured by the gunman during an exchange of fire in a lift well, but was in a stable condition and was due to have surgery. The other people injured sustained moderate to serious injuries, police said.
The gunman has been identified as Matu Tangi Matua Reid, 24, who was working at the site and had a history of family violence.
He was the subject of a home detention order, but had an exemption to work at the site, New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
“The individual is known for primarily family violence history,” he said, adding that there were “indications of mental health history,” but that there was no evidence Reid was of high lethal risk and his previous offenses had not suggested he posed this kind of threat. He did not have a firearms licence.
Hipkins said authorities were investigating how the gunman acquired a firearm and whether his behavior suggested any red flags before the shooting. The Department of Corrections is reviewing its interactions with Reid.
Hipkins said he had spoken to FIFA organizers and the tournament would go ahead as planned. Police assured the public there was no continuing risk and no reason not to proceed. FIFA issued a statement saying it had been told the shooting was not related to football operations, so the opening match could “proceed as planned.”
Several streets in Auckland were cordoned off, all ferry services into the city canceled, while buses running through some areas of the city were on detours.
Additional reporting by Reuters and AAP
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