Multiple People Shot Dead By A Gunman At Fort Lauderdale Airport In Florida, USA

“Multiple people” have been shot dead by a lone gunman at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida, say officials.

The airport said there was an “ongoing incident” at the baggage claim area in Terminal 2.

There were several people dead and one person in custody, Broward Sheriff’s office said in a tweet.

Hundreds of people were standing on the tarmac as dozens of police cars and ambulances rushed to the scene.

Police received a call just before 1300 local time (1800 GMT) about shots fired at Terminal Drive.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in a tweet: “I’m at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.”

A Miami TV station tweeted footage claiming to be filmed from inside the baggage terminal.

The video shows several injured people laying on the floor, as witnesses shout for medical help.

A witness told NBC News the gunman was shot by police less than a minute after the shooting began.

“He was gunned down by police,” Mark Lea from Minneapolis told the network.

“It was absolutely surreal,” he said.

“People were scared and frantically running to avoid being shot. People were tripping over each other. They were trying to make a fast exit out of the door.”

Florida Governor Rick Scott is travelling to the airport to be briefed by law enforcement.

Fort Lauderdale is a major tourist hub in the greater Miami area.

Source:bbc.com