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New Zealand's women's World Cup team evacuates due to a hotel fire in the second security incident.

New Zealand's women's World Cup team evacuates due to a hotel fire in the second security incident.

By Mounira Magdy

Published: July 23, 2023

The New Zealand team participating in the Women's World Cup had to evacuate a downtown hotel on Saturday evening after several small fires broke out.

The New Zealand police charged a 34-year-old man with burglary and arson and said he is scheduled to appear in Auckland District Court on Monday.

This was the second security incident in three days during the World Cup, following a deadly shooting near the team's hotels on the first morning of the tournament.

The football team was briefly evacuated from the Pullman Hotel after a fire was reported, and the team stated that all players were safe and accounted for, around 7:45 PM on Saturday.

Four people were treated for smoke inhalation, according to the New Zealand Herald, and several small fires were found in the hotel that fire officials deemed suspicious, and it is not yet clear if the incident is related to the World Cup.

New Zealand is co-hosting the Women's World Cup with Australia, and on the morning of New Zealand's opening match at Eden Park in Auckland on Thursday, a gunman opened fire at a construction site in downtown Auckland, resulting in two fatalities, and the shooter was killed after an exchange of gunfire with the police, with five others injured.

A minute of silence was held in honor of the victims before New Zealand's 1-0 victory over Norway.

The New Zealand team continues to play in the tournament on Tuesday with a match against the Philippines in Wellington.

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