A mass shooting broke out in New Zealand near where the U.S. women’s national soccer team is gearing up for this week’s World Cup … but, thankfully, officials for the squad said all of its players and staffers are safe.
According to New Zealand police, gunshots initially rang out on Wednesday morning at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD — just a few miles from where the USWNT and other countries are slated to compete in the prestigious soccer tournament.
Police said a shooter opened fire inside the site at around 7:22 AM … and then continued moving through the building while repeatedly discharging his gun.
BREAKING: Multiple people killed in Auckland, New Zealand mass shooting – NZHerald pic.twitter.com/COuI0A8IPl
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 19, 2023
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Cops say when they arrived on scene, officers attempted to engage the gunman … who had barricaded himself inside of an elevator shaft.
“Further shots were fired from the male,” cops said in a statement … “he was located deceased a short time later.”
Authorities say two people — plus the suspect — died during the incident. Several others, they added, were injured.
The USWNT said in a statement following the tragedy that “all of our USWNT players and staff are accounted for and safe.”
“Our security team is in communication with local authorities,” team officials continued, “and we are proceeding with our daily schedule.”
The 23.
We can’t wait to represent you Down Under 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mXjaRRAZ08
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 10, 2023
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New Zealand officials added that while the situation was “alarming,” they believe the incident “has been contained and is an isolated” one.
“We can also advise that this is not a national security risk,” they said.
The World Cup is slated to kick off in Auckland on Thursday … when New Zealand takes on Norway at Eden Park.
The USWNT, meanwhile, is scheduled to begin its group play at Eden Park on Friday against Vietnam.