People have been told to stay home and avoid travelling into the city
A gunman has gone on a rampage in Aukland just hours before the FIFA Women’s World Cup is due to get underway in the city.
Local reports suggest three people have been killed in the New Zealand city, while ten other people, including police officers, were injured.
The gunman is also believed to have been killed after the incident which took place early in the morning UK time.
Prime minister Chris Hipkins has described the attack as an isolated incident and said it was not an act of terror.
But residents were advised to stay home and avoid travelling into the city as the incident unfolded.
Mayor Wayne Brown said all Fifa personnel and football teams are safe and have been accounted for on Twitter.
“I can’t remember anything like this ever happening in our beautiful city. This morning’s events have been tragic and distressing for all Aucklanders, as this is not something that we are used to,” he wrote.
Fifa expressed its “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families and said it was in communication with New Zealand authorities.
“The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place,” it said.
The opening match is to be held between New Zealand and Norway in the city’s Eden Park.
Sport Minister Grant Robertson said there would be extra police in the area to provide reassurance.
Details of the incident have started to emerge as the city comes to terms with the tragedy.
Police said they heard reports of a person discharging a firearm inside the construction site, and the gunman moved through the building and continued to fire
The man then went into a lift shaft and police attempted to engage with him.
Further shots were fired by the man and he was found dead a short time later, police said.
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