Shooting in Auckland hours before the start of the Women’s Soccer World Cup

2023-07-20 06:15:00

A shooting in downtown Auckland left this Thursday two people deadin addition to the attacker, hours before the opening of the Women’s Soccer World Cup in the city of New Zealand. The government spoke with the organizers of FIFA and confirmed that the tournament will continue.

The police explained that the attacker entered a building in the center of Auckland, the most populous city in the country, at 7:23 a.m. local time, where he killed two people and injured six othersincluding some agents.

“The attacker moved through the building and continued to discharge his weapon“Recounted Acting Police Superintendent Sunny Patel. “As soon as he reached the top floor of the building, the man barricaded himself in the elevator shaft and our staff tried to talk to him,” he added. “The man fired more shots and was found dead shortly following,” he reported.

Security forces were reportedly deployed in “significant” numbers to the site and cordoned off the area. also mobilized a helicopter. Local media showed footage of a police officer being transferred to an ambulance.

The attack occurred on Thursday morning in New Zealand. PHOTO: AFP

“What happened is understandably alarming and we are reassuring public opinion that this incident is under control and it is an isolated incident,” the superintendent said.

For his part, the New Zealand Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, was shocked by the unusual event in the country, but guaranteed that the soccer tournament co-organized with Australia will take place as planned. “The assessment of the authorities is that there is no national security risk. There is no change in New Zealand’s national security threat level,” Hipkins insisted.

The authorities guaranteed that the police neutralized the threat. PHOTO: AFP

“Aucklanders and viewers around the world can rest assured that the police have neutralized the threat and that ain’t looking for no one else in connection with the incident,” he said.

Several participating teams, including the reigning US champions, are staying in Auckland, which will host the first match of the tournament between New Zealand and Norway early Thursday morning.

The testimony of the athletes

The hotel that hosts the Norway national teamNew Zealand’s opponent in the opening match, was near the scene of the shooting, but all its members are unharmed and everything is “calm in the squad,” said their captain Maren Mjelde.

As he explained, the players were awakened by the sound of a helicopter and “a large number of emergency vehicles.” “At first we didn’t know what was going onbut later there were reports on television and in the local media,” he said in a statement.

“we feel safe all the time”, he clarified. “Everyone seems calm and we prepare normally for tonight’s game”, he added.

Two people were killed in the attack and six others were injured. PHOTO: AFP

Likewise, the USA team said in a statement that all players and staff are safe. “Our security team is in communication with local authorities and we continue with our daily program,” they said.

The local soccer federation claimed to be “shocked by the incident”, but confirmed that all its players are “safe and sound”.

The Women’s Soccer World Cup

Between July 20 and August 20, 32 teams will play the World Cup in 64 games, in 10 different locations. This will be the first Women’s World Cup to have two venues: Australia and New Zealand.

The Argentina team will go for its first win in a World Cup and will try to achieve what would mean a historic achievement: go to the round of 16 for the first time. Of the 32 participating teams, eight will be the countries that will debut in this edition: Portugal, Vietnam, Haiti, Panama, the Philippines, Morocco, Ireland and Zambia.

The Women’s World Cup begins: schedule, Argentina’s debut and everything you need to know

The United States is the team that won the most championships with four cups, followed by Germany with two, and Norway and Japan were victorious once. Argentina will debut in Auckland once morest Italy on Monday 24 at 3 am; will face South Africa in Dunedin on the 27th at 9:00 p.m. and will close the regular phase of Group G once morest Sweden on August 2 at 4:00 a.m.

In addition to the National Team, four Argentines will be part of the World Cup event. Laura Fortunato will be the referee in this edition accompanied by Mariana de Almeida and Daiana Milone as assistants. On the other hand, Salomé Di Iorio will be a VAR assistant.

ML / ED

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