USWNT players and staff ‘accounted for and safe’ after Auckland mass shooting ahead of Women’s World Cup opener

USWNT has confirmed that all its players and staff are safe and accounted for after a gunman stormed a high-rise building in Auckland ahead of the Women’s World Cup opening match.

The shooting comes just hours before the opening ceremony of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. New Zealand and Norway are scheduled to face off at 3am ET Thursday morning (5pm AEST).

Multiple people are feared dead after the incident but US soccer assured fans that the roster was safe. 

‘Regarding the incident in downtown Auckland, all of our USWNT players and staff are accounted for and safe,’ US Soccer said in a statement. 

‘Our security team is in communication with local authorities and we are proceeding with our daily schedule.’

USWNT has confirmed that all its players and staff are safe after a shooting in Auckland

USWNT has confirmed that all its players and staff are safe after a shooting in Auckland 

The USWNT are staying in the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour for the duration of the tournament, which is being hosted by New Zealand and Australia, according to The Sun.

The hotel is a 15 minute drive from 1 Queen Street where the shooting reportedly took place.

Former Football Fern Maia Jackman told local media she was standing in the fan zone known as the Cloud on the nearby wharf when police swarmed the area.

‘It’s pretty scary actually. So they pushed us to the back of the cloud where we are and we’re just trying to keep sane,’ Ms Jackman said.

‘There’s lots of security and lots of uncertainty.’

Specialist officers were seen gathering at a building near a shopping mall at about 2pm ET on Wednesday afternoon (6am NZST Thursday).

Tradesmen in high-vis were seen crouching half way up the skyscraper currently under construction as emergency services swarmed the area below.

The gunman is believed to have stormed the high-rise with fire alarms sounding. New Zealand Police have confirmed the shooter is dead.

Two people have died while six people have been injured, three with serious injuries.

A construction worker inside the high-rise told local media that a man holding a gun had ran up the stairs ‘floor by floor’.

The gunman was wearing a monitoring bracelet and is believed to be 24-years-old, the NZ Herald reports.

There are fears innocent bystanders may have died in the shooting.

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has asked people to stay indoors as emergency services respond to an unfolding incident.

‘We are in communication with the frontline and will update as necessary and appropriate,’ she tweeted just after 6am local time.

In a statement, NZ Police said the serious incident in Auckland CBD was contained to a building in lower Queen Street which is currently under construction.

‘Police ask all members of the public to avoid the lower Queen Street area and for those in downtown inner-city buildings to remain inside their buildings at this time.

‘This is a significant incident with multiple emergency services responding.

‘A large police presence will remain in the area. Police will provide a further update as soon as we are in a position to do so.’

Several roads have been closed due to the serious incident, including sections of Lower Hobson St, Quay St, Queen St, and Lower Albert St.

All ferry services have been suspended until further notice.

Just after 9am local time (5pm ET), Auckland Transport said a police cordon had been extended along Customs Street to Gore Road.

More to follow.  

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Post source: Daily mail

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