Shooting At Florida Airport, 8 People Injured

people have been killed in a Fiveshooting at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida has killed with local officials describing the crime scene as "fluid and active".

Eight people were also injured in the shooting, but it is not known how seriously they were wounded.

The city's mayor has said a lone gunman was responsible for the attack, and the suspect has been taken into custody unharmed and without incident.

US Senator Bill Nelson has said the arrested suspect was carrying military ID with the name Esteban Santiago, although it is not clear whether it belonged to him or someone else.

On Facebook, Broward County commissioner Chip LaMarca wrote: "The shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight with a checked gun.

"He claimed his bag and took the gun from baggage and went into the bathroom to load it. Came out shooting people in baggage claim."

Emergency services were called to the scene just before 1pm local time (6pm UK time).

About 90 minutes after the shooting, aerial footage showed fresh panic among passengers - with some running away from terminal one and across the tarmac to seek shelter.

There were unconfirmed reports of additional shots being fired, but Sheriff Scott Israel told a news conference: "At point there's been no shooting any place else but downstairs in terminal two.

Mr Israel said it is uncertain whether the airport shooting was an act of terror, and the suspect is now being interviewed by FBI agents and homicide detectives.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has been closed indefinitely, with no flights arriving or departing.

Other airports in the state say their services are running as normal but with an increased police presence, while the Port of Miami has introduced enhanced security measures "out of an abundance of caution".

Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, said he was at the airport and "everyone was running" when shots were fired.

Passengers who had already boarded their plane prior to take-off were told to stay in their seats.

Jillian Saunders, who was due to fly to Los Angeles, told the Associated Press: "Everything you see on the news is happening outside my window. I am luckily on the plane and they said we are right now the safest people at the airport."

A director at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International told reporters that between 80,000 and 100,000 passengers use the airport on any given day.

The Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, has travelled to the scene so he can be briefed by law enforcement officials.



SkyNews