Gun shots heard from building - police responding to serious incident in Auckland CBD

A man was seen being escorted into a St John Ambulance with armed police. TVNZ said it was an injured police officer

Photo: Martin Devlin

The serious incident in Auckland CBD this morning is currently contained to a building in lower Queen Street, which is under construction.

Police are asking 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.”

Auckland’s Mayor Wayne Brown has told TVNZ’s Breakfast programme he believes one man is dead.

When pressed regarding his comment about the possible death, he said “well, that's what I that's what I've heard.

“No one's actually sure.

“The police are under immense pressure and I'm getting regular briefings, it's been quite a shock to them.”

The incident is near Britomart.

This is one of the central transport hubs, a focal point in Auckland CBD for daily commuters.

A number of office blocks would have already had staffed in there this morning.

All police units were called to this unfolding incidents.

TVNZ reporter Barbara Dreaver said she her heard around six gunshots coming from the building.

Many armed police officers were seen going into the building.

One man with blood on his face come out of the building and was taken into an ambulance.

Witness Deon Hosking, told TVNZ police told him to run and “hide behind something hard.”

“The was about five or six shots in quick succession. It was just like bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, and I was down the end of Queens Wharf on the city end, and people just started yelling at everyone who hundreds of workers down there just to get inside sent in.

“Some people started running but most people were pretty calm. But as soon as the shots went off, that’s when that people really started to panic.”

Dreaver said construction workers could be seen hiding behind desks close to the window of a large building.

Gun shots could be heard coming from the building.

“They've moved the workers away from the windows, but we can still see a couple up there, but some of them have moved away from behind pillars, it’s terrible situation for them.

“We talked to an employer who said he can't even contact some of those inside that building.

Dreaver “the American Embassy is three buildings down from here.

“It’s a very busy area and for this time of the morning between.”

Photo: Twitter @MartinStroud9

A police spokesperson said a number of armed police are currently responding to the incident and the public is asked to please stay indoors and avoid the area.