A man fired five shots at Canberra airport on Sunday, causing passengers to panic but causing no casualties, according to Australian police who arrested him. Police evacuated and closed the main airport in the Australian capital, causing many flights to be suspended.
“A male entered Canberra airport in the departures area. He sat in one of the areas adjacent to the glass windows,” Commissioner Dave Craft told reporters outside the airport building.
“After about five minutes, this male took a gun from his possession and fired about five times,” he said.
The motive of the attacker is unknown.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been made aware of the incident: “I am informed that a man has been arrested and there are no pending threats”, said in a statement.
From the outside, several bullet holes could be seen in the glass facade of the airport, according to images broadcast by the Australian public network ABC. Images circulating on social media show a police officer pinning a man to the ground inside the terminal as alarms sounded at the capital’s main airport.
“Police have been notified … following reports of shots fired at the main terminal,” police in the Australian capital said. “Shortly thereafter, a person was detained and a firearm was seized,” she added, noting that the man appeared to have acted alone.
The motive of the alleged assailant is still unclear, but the situation is now under control, according to police.
“Everyone was hiding behind the chairs and people were running”
ABC reporter Lily Thomson at the scene said she heard gunshots before people started screaming. She saw a scared woman taking care of a baby. We all ran and I stayed with this grandma and her baby and (we) hid behind the information desk,” she told ABC.
“We stayed there for a few minutes until security told us to evacuate to the parking lot.” “Everyone was hiding behind chairs and people were running,” she added.
Canberra airport said it was working with airlines to restart flights on Sunday afternoon. Some flights have been cancelled.
Source: BFM TV
