Auckland: Suspected gunman on the loose ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup opening match

Heavily armed police have descended on the Auckland CBD after reports a gunman had stormed a high-rise building ahead of the Women’s World Cup. 

Specialist officers were seen gathering at a building on 1 Queen Street near the Britomart shopping mall at about 6am NZST on Thursday morning. 

Tradesmen in high-vis were seen crouching half way up the skyscraper currently under construction as emergency services swarmed the area below. 

It’s understood more than one person has died at the scene while six people have been injured, three with serious injuries. 

A construction worker inside the high-rise told local media that a man holding a gun had ran up the stairs ‘floor by floor’. 

 Heavily armed police have descended on the Auckland CBD after reports a gunman had stormed a high-rise building ahead of the Women’s World Cup (pictured, an injured officer)

Specialist officers were seen gathering at a building on 1 Queen Street near the Britomart shopping mall at about 6am NZST on Thursday morning (pictured)

Another tradie said he had ran into the gunman on the stairs at about 7.20am and appeared visibly shaken from the confrontation. 

‘He looked like he was looking for someone,’ another worker told the NZ Herald. 

A witness at the scene heard a series of gunshots just after 8am. 

It comes just hours before the opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup with New Zealand and Norway scheduled to play at 5pm AEST.

Former Football Fern Maia Jackman told local media she was standing in the fan zone known as the Cloud on the nearby wharf when police swarmed the area. 

‘It’s pretty scary actually. So they pushed us to the back of the cloud where we are and we’re just trying to keep sane,’ Ms Jackman said. 

‘There’s lots of security and lots of uncertainty.’

Several construction workers were forced to take cover behind piles of building material as emergency services swarmed the area (pictured)

A construction worker on floor 14 of the skyscraper told local media that a man holding a gun had ran up the stairs ‘floor by floor’ (pictured, heavily armed police at the scene)

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick has asked people to stay indoors as emergency services respond to an unfolding incident. 

‘We are in communication with the frontline and will update as necessary and appropriate,’ she tweeted just after 6am local time. 

In a statement, NZ Police said the serious incident in Auckland CBD was contained to a building in lower Queen Street which is currently under construction. 

‘Police ask all members of the public to avoid the lower Queen Street area and for those in downtown inner-city buildings to remain inside their buildings at this time.

‘This is a significant incident with multiple emergency services responding.

‘A large police presence will remain in the area. Police will provide a further update as soon as we are in a position to do so.’

In a statement, NZ Police said the serious incident in Auckland CBD was contained to a building in lower Queen Street which is currently under construction 

Several roads have been closed due to the serious incident, including sections of Lower Hobson St, Quay St, Queen St, and Lower Albert St (pictured, police cars at the scene)

Several roads have been closed due to the serious incident, including sections of Lower Hobson St, Quay St, Queen St, and Lower Albert St.

All ferry services have been suspended until further notice.

Just after 9am local time, Auckland Transport said a police cordon had been extended along Customs Street to Gore Road. 

More to come.