AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND / OSLO (VG) Two people, in addition to the perpetrator, have died after shooting at the Norwegian national team’s hotel.
Published:
Less than 3 hours ago
Updated just now
Shots were heard near the Norwegian player hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, where the national football team is staying for the World Cup. Police have asked people to stay indoors and avoid the area. Two people have died. The perpetrator has also died, according to the police in New Zealand. Six people are injured. The national team’s press contact, Halvor Lea, says that the situation as of now will not affect the team’s preparations for their upcoming match against the host nation New Zealand. Show more
According to the newspaper New Zealand Herald several shots are said to have been heard close to the Norwegian player hotel.
The newspaper has published a video in which at least eight shots can be heard being fired.
The police confirm Twitter that two people have died. The perpetrator has also been confirmed dead.
– The perpetrator moved through the construction site and shot, the police write.
When the perpetrator reached the upper floors, he stayed inside the lift shaft where the police tried to make contact with him.
– Further shots were fired from the perpetrator and he was found dead a short time later, according to the police.
Further investigation will reveal what happened at the construction site.
The police on the scene are heavily armed. It will be a construction site a few hundred meters away, around five minutes’ walk, from the Norwegian national football team’s hotel.
In a few hours they will play the opening match of the football World Cup against the host nation New Zealand.
Does not affect the WC
Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s prime minister, spoke about the shooting Friday morning local time.
– It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that two people have been killed. Six others are injured, including police officers, says the prime minister.
Hipkins emphasizes that the national security level will not be raised as a result of the incident. The Prime Minister thanks the police and emergency services for their efforts at the scene.
– There are many eyes on Auckland because of the football World Cup. The tournament will be held as planned. There is not a wider national security threat as a result of the incident. The police have neutralized the threat. The safety of our residents and visitors is our number one priority, says Hipkins.
The Prime Minister emphasizes that the police’s investigation is ongoing, and that they will provide new updates throughout Friday.
– We felt safe the whole time
At 10.30pm, VG’s reporter on the scene says that over nine police cars have blocked the entire street at Auckland Central. There are still many people out in the streets.
New Zealand Herald has published a picture of a bloody policeman being led out of the area.
Captain of the national team, Maren Mjelde, says that it is calm in the Norwegian squad, which is having breakfast right now.
Preparations are going as normal.
– Everyone probably woke up quite quickly when the helicopter hovered outside the hotel window and a large number of emergency vehicles arrived. At first we didn’t know what was going on, but eventually there were updates on TV and the local media, she says.
– We felt safe the whole time. Fifa has a good security system at the hotel, and we have our own security officer in the squad. Everyone seems calm and we are preparing as normal for the game tonight. Then we may have to adapt if there are any guidelines from the authorities, she adds.
1 / 9
previous
in this
full screen
Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG
Watching the police from the hotel
Press contact for the national team Halvor Lea informs VG that the Norwegian national team is awaiting the authorities’ handling and guidance going forward.
– We were woken by the police helicopter and the sirens a little after 07.15. The team lives 3–400 m from the building the police entered, and is not affected, but we see around 30 police cars from the hotel window, he says.
– Initially, this will not affect the team’s preparations, but we will have to wait for the authorities’ handling and guidance going forward. The players haven’t arrived for breakfast yet, and we let them focus on the match preparations, writes Lea.
– It was absolutely sick. I witnessed it from start to finish, says Stabæk player Meryll Abrahamsen, who plays for the Philippine national team, to VG around 23:13 Norwegian time.
The Philippines are staying at the Mövenpick Hotel, close to the drama, and were initially supposed to turn their noses at the airport at 08:50 local time (22:50 Norwegian time). About an hour later, however, they had not recovered.
They play the opening match in Dunedin against Switzerland on Friday morning Norwegian time.
SEE THE DRAMA: Stabæk and Philippines player Meryll Abrahamsen, here from a top league match against LSK Women in April. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
Six people injured
The ambulance service confirms that six people are injured. Three of them have serious injuries.
A large area has been cordoned off and the police have asked the public to stay indoors and avoid the area in question.
A construction worker tells the New Zealand Herald that he encountered an armed man at the construction site.
However, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown tells Breakfast that the shooter is dead.
When asked if he has had it confirmed by the police, he replies:
– They don’t need me to disturb them.
– That’s what I think – what I’ve heard. No one is quite sure of that, he continues.
Published:
Published: 19.07.23 at 10:30 p.m
Updated: 20.07.23 at 00:32
Copy linkCopy linkShare on FacebookShare on FacebookShare by emailShare by email
2023-07-19 20:30:02
#Shooting #players #hotel #World #Cup #city #Auckland #people #died
