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 receiving unconfirmed reports a gunman was inside a high-rise building. 

Specialist officers were seen gathering on Quay Street near the popular shopping mall Britomart at about 6am New Zealand time. 

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

Images from the scene show tradesmen crouching half way up the Commercial Bay tower, a high-rise building near the city’s Princes Wharf.

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’. 

Heavily armed police have descended on the Auckland CBD after receiving unconfirmed reports a gunman was inside a high-rise building (pictured, an injured police officer)

Specialist officers were seen gathering on Quay Street near the popular shopping mall Britomart just before 6am New Zealand time (pictured, the scene on Thursday morning)

Another tradie told the NZ Herald that he ran into the gunman on the stairs and appeared visibly shaken from the confrontation. 

Ambulance service St Johns said three patients are being treated for serious injuries while another three are receiving treatment for moderate injuries. 

A reporter at the scene said she heard ‘five continuous’ gunshots while another was told by police to shelter behind something ‘hard and solid’. 

The incident comes ahead of 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.  

Witnesses said they could hear a police helicopter overhead. 

More to come.