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Fort Lauderdale shooting: five dead and suspect in custody at Florida airport Fort Lauderdale shooting: five dead and suspect in custody at Florida airport
(about 1 hour later)
Five people were killed and eight injured in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida on Friday. Five people were killed and eight injured in a shooting at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida on Friday. A suspect was in custody.
Asked at a mid-afternoon news briefing if the shooting was considered a terror attack, Broward County sheriff Scott Israel said: “It’s too early to say either way.” Asked at a mid-afternoon news briefing if the shooting was considered a terror attack, Broward County sheriff Scott Israel said: “It’s too early to say either way.” The FBI was assisting the sheriff’s office.
The FBI was assisting the sheriff’s office in its investigation. Rick Scott, Florida’s governor, condemned the shooting as “a senseless act of evil”.
The sheriff’s office used Twitter to confirm the shooting, which happened shortly before 1pm local time, and say five people were dead, eight had been sent to local hospitals and a suspect was in custody. “You just can’t imagine how this could ever happen in a great state like ours,” he said in a press conference at the airport. “Think of the innocent lives that are lost. We still have people fighting for their lives in our hospitals.
The shooter, who was not immediately named officially, was unharmed, Israel said, adding: “No law enforcement fired shots. He is being interviewed by FBI agents and the sheriff’s office.” “Whoever is responsible will be held accountable to the full extent of the law. Let me repeat this, the state of Florida, the citizens of Florida, law enforcement, will not tolerate evil acts. My heart goes out to every family impacted. The families who lost their loved ones, and those with loved ones still in hospital fighting for their lives.”
A Broward County commissioner who had been briefed by the sheriff’s office told the Associated Press the gunman was a passenger who had arrived on a flight from Canada and carried a gun in their checked luggage. Scott, a Republican, said he had “reached out” to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice-president elect Mike Pence several times. “They told me that whatever resources we needed from the federal government, they would do everything in their power to make that happen,” he said.
The Canadian embassy in Washington DC, however, said the flight had been from Anchorage, in Alaska and flew to Florida via Minneapolis. In response to a reporter, Scott admitted he had neither contacted nor heard from President Obama. Asked why not, he responded: “I have a personal relationship with Vice-president-elect Pence and President-elect Trump and I reached out to them.
“It’s horrible what happened here, it’s not time to be political, it’s a time to mourn those who lost their lives, finish the investigation and pray for everybody that’s still fighting for their lives.
“We went through Pulse, the biggest thing is pray for everyone in hospital, pray that everyone survives.”
Obama was briefed by his homeland security adviser, the White House said.
Scott was asked if the airport incident and that June 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, in which 49 people died, showed a need for stronger gun control laws in the state.
“It’s not a time to do politics,” he said again, adding that the state should “finish the investigation, mourn those who lost their life and pray for those who are still fighting for their life”.
President-elect Trump, meanwhile, used Twitter to say: “Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!”
Outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, Pence told reporters he and Trump were grateful for Scott’s leadership. “The hearts of every American are in Fort Lauderdale,” he said.
The gunman was unharmed, Sheriff Israel said, adding: “No law enforcement fired shots. He is being interviewed by FBI agents and the sheriff’s office.”
Florida senator Bill Nelson named the suspect in an interview with CNN, saying: “He had a military ID. We don’t know if that is an accurate ID or a current ID.”
The sheriff however said no information about the gunman or weapon would yet be made public.
A Broward County commissioner briefed by the sheriff’s office told the Associated Press the gunman was a passenger who had arrived on a flight from Canada and carried a gun in their checked luggage. The Canadian embassy in Washington DC, however, said the flight had been from Anchorage in Alaska and had flown to Florida via Minneapolis.
The county commissioner, Chip LaMarca, said the shooter removed the weapon, which witnesses told news organisations appeared to be a 9mm handgun, after picking up his luggage. He then loaded it in a bathroom and began shooting, LaMarca said.The county commissioner, Chip LaMarca, said the shooter removed the weapon, which witnesses told news organisations appeared to be a 9mm handgun, after picking up his luggage. He then loaded it in a bathroom and began shooting, LaMarca said.
Firearms can legally be carried in checked baggage, but they must be unloaded and stored in a locked and hard-walled container, according to TSA rules. Ammunition and firearms must be declared to the airline when checking baggage. Firearms can legally be carried in checked baggage but must be unloaded and stored in a locked and hard-walled container, according to TSA rules. Ammunition and firearms must be declared to the airline when checking baggage.
Earlier, as the shooting was being investigated, the sheriff’s office said there was an active search for another gunman, after unconfirmed reports of possible additional shots on airport property. Earlier, the sheriff’s office said there was an active search for another gunman.
Barbara Sharief, mayor of Broward County, told CNN police had received reports of possible shots in a nearby airport parking garage. People were seen to scatter and running along a runway, carrying baggage. Barbara Sharief, mayor of Broward County, told CNN police had received reports of possible shots in an airport parking garage. People were seen to scatter and run along a runway, carrying baggage.
However, at the mid-afternoon press conference, the sheriff dismissed rumors of multiple gunmen. However, at the mid-afternoon press conference, the sheriff dismissed rumors of multiple gunmen. “At this point, there’s no second active shooter,” Israel said. “There’s been no shooting in any place else than in the downstairs of terminal two.”
“At this point, there’s no second active shooter,” Israel said. “There’s been no shooting in any place else than in the downstairs of terminal two.” All flights were temporarily suspended. “We’re just going to go step-by-step, methodically through the building before we go to any steps to reopen operations,” said airport director Mark Gale.
Florida senator Bill Nelson named the suspect in an interview with CNN. Law enforcement however did not immediately confirm the name, with the sheriff saying no information about the shooter or weapon would yet be made public. Shortly before 5pm, the sheriff’s office warned that a planned controlled explosion would take place near the airport, although it was unknown if the package related to the shooting.
“He had a military ID,” said Nelson. “We don’t know if that is an accurate ID or a current ID.”
All flights were temporarily suspended.
“We’re just going to go step-by-step, methodically through the building before we go any steps to reopen operations,” said airport director Mark Gale.
Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, was at the airport when the shooting occurred and tweeted what he could see.Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, was at the airport when the shooting occurred and tweeted what he could see.
“Shots have been fired,” he wrote, just before 1pm ET. “Everyone is running.” “Shots have been fired,” he wrote, just before 1pm ET. “Everyone is running.” Twenty minutes later, he added: “All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport – at least not the area where I am.”
Twenty minutes later, he added: “All seems calm now but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport – at least not the area where I am.”
One witness told MSNBC the shooter as a slender man who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags.One witness told MSNBC the shooter as a slender man who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags.
“I put my head down and prayed,” the witness said, adding that his wife had given first aid to someone who had been shot in the head. The witness’s mother-in-law tended to another victim but the person was already dead, he said.“I put my head down and prayed,” the witness said, adding that his wife had given first aid to someone who had been shot in the head. The witness’s mother-in-law tended to another victim but the person was already dead, he said.
President-elect Donald Trump used Twitter to say: “Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!”
Governor Rick Scott wrote that he was in Fort Lauderdale and “monitoring the shooting with law enforcement”.
“Spoke to [Donald Trump], [Florida] airports about security and safety,” he wrote.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the second-largest airport in South Florida, behind Miami.