Police are searching for a gunman after two New Zealand officers were seriously injured in Auckland on Friday.
New Zealand police wrote on Twitter: “At around 10.30am, a police unit has performed a routine traffic stop on Reynella Drive. There has been shots fired at Police officers. Two officers have been shot and have been seriously injured.”
Local media 1 NEWS reported earlier in the day that they understood one of the officers has since died. This was later confirmed by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster at a press conference held at the Wellington Airport Police Station.
The two officers were unarmed, which is the usual procedure in New Zealand, where only specialist police like those at airports or in tactical response teams routinely carry guns.
Superintendent Naila Hassan, the Waitemata District Commander, released a statement saying that a member of the public had also been hit and injured by the vehicle involved in the traffic stop. Cordons are in place and schools in the local area have been advised to lockdown.
Police have advised all members of the public to avoid the Massey area of West Auckland, in particular the areas around Don Buck Road, Waimumu Road, Hewlitt Road, and Triangle Road.
This article has been updated upon confirmation that an officer died.
