Deadly shooting in New Zealand hours before world cup

New Zealand is in mourning after a shooting in Auckland left two people dead, hours before the city opened the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Six other people, including police officers, were injured and the gunman is also dead after the incident at 07:22 (19:22 GMT) on a construction site in the central business district.

PM Chris Hipkins said the attack was not being seen as an act of terrorism.

The tournament would go ahead as planned, he confirmed.

While no political or ideological motive for the attack had been identified, police had neutralised the threat and the public could be assured that there was no ongoing risk, the prime minister said.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said the shooting was not in any way related to the Women’s World Cup.

The shooter, 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid, tore through a construction site with a pump-action shotgun, plunging the busy centre of New Zealand’s largest city into lockdown.

The man was know to police and had a history of family violence and mental health issues. He had been subject to a home detention order but had an exemption to work at the site  before returning with the pump-action.

He did not have a license to own a firearm.