Armed police have taken two people into custody following a dramatic incident on Auckland’s North Shore that saw the Glenfield Mall evacuated and four nearby schools placed into lockdown.
The midday chaos was triggered after a single-vehicle crash on Downing Street at approximately 11:20 am. Police say two occupants fled the crashed vehicle, with one person reportedly seen carrying an object that appeared to be a firearm. This prompted a large-scale emergency response that enveloped the suburban shopping district in a state of high alert.
An extensive police cordon was established around the mall, particularly focusing on the fourth floor of the car park where the incident began. A black sedan was left abandoned after striking a pole. Witnesses at the scene noted the car’s engine was still running with its driver, passenger, and boot doors wide open, suggesting a hasty escape.
Chaos unfolds at shopping centre
The sudden and heavy police presence caused alarm and confusion for shoppers and staff inside the mall. The situation escalated around 11:30 am when fire alarms began to sound, followed by the appearance of heavily armed officers. One person wrote on a local community Facebook page, "Was just in the supermarket, and turned around with the fire alarm going off and there with 7 cops with guns in the supermarket, the mall is covered with cops now".
<p>An evacuation order quickly followed, leading to what one shopper described as "carpark chaos". They recounted a scene of frantic activity, stating, "I was evacuated, armed police everywhere, all entrances closed, fire engine at the back." The congestion was made worse by drivers attempting to enter the car park being turned away by police, leading to significant delays and confusion in the surrounding streets. Video footage from the scene showed large groups of evacuated people gathered outside the mall perimeter, watching as police vehicles swarmed the area. The large-scale police action highlights the seriousness with which authorities are treating firearms-related incidents in the city, an issue that has seen three men charged over Gregory Hills gym shooting in recent months.
Nearby schools forced into lockdown
The potential threat of a firearm in the vicinity triggered immediate safety protocols at four local schools: Glenfield College, Glenfield Intermediate, Glenfield Primary, and Wairau Valley Special School. Several nearby childcare centres were also placed into lockdown as a precaution. The Ministry of Education provides clear guidelines for schools to follow in such emergencies to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The situation was tense for parents and family members, who were instructed by schools not to approach the campuses or attempt to make contact. In a message to parents, Glenfield College principal Rakesh Govind stressed the importance of these measures to ensure a safe resolution.
We will continue to provide updates on our website as often as possible. Please do not come to the school or phone the school as you will not be attended to and this may cause disruption to the management of this incident and could potentially place yourselves and/or our staff and student’s safety at risk.
The anxiety of the situation was palpable. A family member of a teacher at Glenfield Intermediate told reporters their relative was hiding under a table inside a classroom, a stark illustration of the fear experienced by those caught in the lockdown. Similar messages were sent by other affected schools, asking parents for their cooperation while the police operation was underway.
Community shaken as lockdowns lift
By early afternoon, police confirmed the precautionary lockdowns at the mall and all educational facilities had been lifted. The resolution came as a relief to the hundreds of students, shoppers, and workers affected by the day’s events. Community life was gradually returning to normal, though the morning’s disruption left many feeling unsettled about public safety and the increasing prevalence of firearms-related crime.
The incident also raises questions about preparedness and the psychological impact such events have on the community, particularly on school children. While school emergency procedures are designed to protect, the experience of a lockdown can be frightening, and schools often provide support to students in the following days.
Though the immediate danger has passed, police have confirmed they will maintain an increased presence in the Glenfield area. In a statement, a police spokesperson said this was to provide public reassurance and to allow officers to continue their enquiries into the circumstances of the crash and the subsequent firearm sighting.
