Fatalities in shooting at Fort Lauderdale airport: sheriff

Miami (AFP) – A gunman opened fire Friday at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport in Florida, causing multiple fatalities, officials said.

“Confirmed: Shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with multiple people dead. One subject in custody,” the Broward County Sheriff’s office said in a tweet.

Mayor Barbara Sharief said there was one shooter who was now in custody. She said the motive for the attack was not yet known.

Television footage showed passengers running to safety, and others gathered on the tarmac.

“There is an ongoing incident in Terminal 2, Baggage Claim,” the airport tweeted.

Ari Fleischer, a former White House spokesman, tweeted: “I’m at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.”

In another tweet, he cited police as saying there was one shooter and five victims.