Roads closed in Auckland’s Henderson, school locked down due to police ‘incident’

A school is locked down and police have closed several West Auckland streets as they “respond to an incident”.

About 7am on Friday, police said an incident was occurring around Newington Rd, Henderson.

Several armed police were in the nearby area.

Holy Cross Catholic School has issued a notice to parents via the school app, saying the school is in lockdown.

“Ministry have rung to say there is a police operation in Lavelle Rd.”

Four teachers and “some kids” who had already arrived at the school were all safe in a classroom where the police had put them, the notice said.

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A resident of Newington Rd confirmed the school was locked down and he was unable to take his kids in to class on Friday morning.

There were police on the road outside his house, but he had not been told what was going on.

Parents were seen arriving at the school with their children in cars, but were being turned away by police.

Two children arriving on their own were escorted by police to the school, where another armed officer was stationed.

An ambulance was also seen parked in a driveway.

Auckland Transport has put out a travel alert saying one bus route, as well as some school bus services, would be detoured.

Drivers were asked to avoid the area.

Holy Cross Catholic School has been contacted for comment.

Police have been asked for more information but say none can be released yet.

In July 2022, 34-year-old Aitasi Carmella Hohenberger was shot dead on Newington Rd.

At the time, a neighbour described hearing gunshots and seeing Hohenberger slumped on the ground.

A 34-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to her murder and will go to trial in late 2023.

MORE TO COME.