A shooter opened fire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport earlier on Friday, killing five people and wounding multiple others, law enforcement officials said.
The shooter was in custody, the Broward County sheriff’s office said, but the situation remained active. All flights were grounded and additional areas of the airport were being evacuated. The motive for the attack, which started shortly before 1 p.m. was not known, according to law enforcement officials.
The suspect in custody was identified as Esteban Santiago, Florida Sen.
The sheriff’s office tweeted at about 2:50 p.m., ET, there were unconfirmed reports of additional shots fired on airport property and it was conducting an active search.
In a news conference around 3:25 p.m., ET, law enforcement officials said the situation was “fluid and active.” They confirmed the shooter was unharmed and in custody. Law enforcement did not fire any shots, officials said.
The Transportation Security Administration warned people at the Fort Lauderdale Airport to shelter in place and described it as an active shooter situation.
The airport tweeted that the earlier shooting took place at the Terminal 2 baggage claim area in the lower level. It said the airport would be closed for an extended period of time.
Earlier, hundreds of passengers and airport workers could be seen gathering and evacuating via the tarmac.
The airport has four terminals and serves more than 73,000 travelers every day. It ranks 21st in the U.S. in total passenger traffic, with more than 650 commercial flights a day.
Florida Governor Rick Scott’s office said the governor was en route to Fort Lauderdale to be briefed by law enforcement, but could not confirm information on fatalities, injuries or motive.
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer — who was at the airport at the time — tweeted about the shooting.
I'm at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2017
All seems calm now but the police aren't letting anyone out of the airport – at least not the area where I am.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2017
Both the Los Angeles and the Miami international airports said they were deploying additional resources in light of the attack.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s office said the governor was en route to Fort Lauderdale to be briefed by law enforcement, but could not confirm information on fatalities, injuries or motive.
The FBI told CNBC it is aware of the situation and is in contact with local authorities, but no further information was available.
That little worm Ari Fleischer was there? Damn, I wish he’d been the one to get waxed.
Now the news is stating 5 people have been killed……….last update……..
Figured something was going to be up around here when they evacuated Airside F at Tampa International Airport last Sunday for awhile.
Is this for real or another mass casualty exercise?
The Sheriff of Broward County, Scott Israel is the first stinking, Bolshevik, Communist, RAT JEW that the county has ever had! I’m going to guess it’s a false flag!
“They confirmed the shooter was unharmed and in custody. Law enforcement did not fire any shots, officials said.”
That tidbit alone screams FALSE FLAG.
These scumbags MURDER UNARMED AMERICANS ON A DAILY BASIS, and we’re to believe that an ARMED ‘suspect’ did NOT put them ‘in fear for their (miserable, worthless) lives’? Didn’t fire A SINGLE SHOT?????
bullsh#t
I was thinking the same thing.
Yeah, the incident MAY be real, because these things are bound to happen from time to time in a country of over 300 million people. But suspicion and skepticism are always warranted. One would be a fool to ever trust, even for a second, the kind of government that would even CONSIDER Operation Northwoods.
and the hard sell to trade freedom for security continues…..
It goes against their very nature NOT to be ‘in fear for their (miserable, worthless) lives’, and NOT to shoot anyone at every possible opportunity.
Funny how that little worm Ari just happened to be there at that time. Tell me that ain’t shady.
Yeah, damn convenient!
Agree with BMF!
Early morning…..
nite