A shooting in the city of Auckland, the most populous in New Zealand, has left at least three dead and at least six injured this Thursday, hours before the start of the opening ceremony of the Women’s Soccer World Cup.

The event occurred at 7:23 a.m. local time (19:23 GMT on Wednesday) in a construction zone in the center of the city, when the attacker entered a building and opened fire, according to the Police.

“It is with deep regret that I can confirm that two people have been killed,” New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement released by local media.

Police confirmed shortly after that the assailant also died in the attack, so the death toll rises to three. At least six other individuals were injured, including a police officer, and were taken to Auckland Hospital. Three of them are in serious condition.

The shooting has occurred hours before the start of the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, which will be attended by various personalities and authorities, and of the first game of the tournament, when the New Zealand co-hosts will receive Norway.

According to Hipkins, authorities have assessed that It is not a “threat to the security of New Zealand” and that the tournament “will proceed as planned.” The two oceanic nations will host the great World Cup event between Thursday and August 20, in which, for the first time in history, a total of 32 women’s national teams will compete.