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Los Angeles airport evacuation sparked by 'loud noises' | Los Angeles airport evacuation sparked by 'loud noises' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Unconfirmed reports of gunshots, later described by police as just "loud noises", have sparked evacuations at Los Angeles airport. | Unconfirmed reports of gunshots, later described by police as just "loud noises", have sparked evacuations at Los Angeles airport. |
People fled the airport on Sunday night amid the shooting reports, with scenes of abandoned luggage on pavements. | People fled the airport on Sunday night amid the shooting reports, with scenes of abandoned luggage on pavements. |
Traffic to the terminal was halted and no flights were allowed to land, but operations have now resumed. | Traffic to the terminal was halted and no flights were allowed to land, but operations have now resumed. |
LA police tweeted that no shots had been fired and there were no injuries. They are investigating the noises. | LA police tweeted that no shots had been fired and there were no injuries. They are investigating the noises. |
The incident follows another case of panic at a US airport, when parts of New York's JFK airport were closed two weeks ago amid reports of gunfire that later proved to be false. | |
'Zorro' man | |
The police and fire departments had deployed many units to the Los Angeles airport after reports of a "security situation" and a possible "active shooter". | |
Los Angeles airport tweeted that an individual in a "Zorro" costume had been detained. | Los Angeles airport tweeted that an individual in a "Zorro" costume had been detained. |
Footage on social media showed the man sitting on a bench at a bus bay outside the airport, surrounded by armed police. He gets on the floor as requested and places his arms out wide before officers move in to detain him. | Footage on social media showed the man sitting on a bench at a bus bay outside the airport, surrounded by armed police. He gets on the floor as requested and places his arms out wide before officers move in to detain him. |
It was unclear whether he was responsible for the noises. | It was unclear whether he was responsible for the noises. |
One passenger, Scott McDonald, told Associated Press he had been trying to disembark from a plane and had been told to get back on. | One passenger, Scott McDonald, told Associated Press he had been trying to disembark from a plane and had been told to get back on. |
He said he had seen many people gathered on the tarmac. | He said he had seen many people gathered on the tarmac. |
Actress Anne Dudek told the LA Times she had been on an escalator when a man ran past saying people were being shot. | Actress Anne Dudek told the LA Times she had been on an escalator when a man ran past saying people were being shot. |
"People started dropping bags and running out of the terminal," she said. "Panic spread." | "People started dropping bags and running out of the terminal," she said. "Panic spread." |
She said she had also left the terminal and run through a parking area to her car and left the airport. | She said she had also left the terminal and run through a parking area to her car and left the airport. |
The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily held some Los Angeles-bound flights. | The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily held some Los Angeles-bound flights. |
Passengers were later allowed to return to the terminal to gather luggage left behind. | Passengers were later allowed to return to the terminal to gather luggage left behind. |
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the world's seventh busiest by traffic. | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the world's seventh busiest by traffic. |