Man arrested after opening fire in Australian airport

A man has been arrested after opening fire in an Australian airport.

The man was arrested following a shooting near the security section at Canberra Airport, in the District of Majura on Sunday afternoon, August 14.

The man fired around five shots at the glass windows before the terminal was evacuated at 1.30pm AEST. 

Police have stated that no shots were directed at passengers, staff or other people in the area.

The man was arrested at the scene following the incident and handed over the gun to police, who confirmed later on that the incident is now under control and no injuries were sustained to anybody.

In a statement released at 2.45pm, police said the man arrested is thought to have acted on his own.

ACT Policing said in a statement: "One person was taken into custody and a firearm was recovered."

"CCTV has been reviewed and at this time the person in custody is believed to be the only person responsible for this incident.

"The Canberra Airport terminal was evacuated as a precaution and the situation at the Airport is contained."

ACT Policing’s detective acting superintendent Dave Craft later reported that the man had not gone through security screening before he opened fire and did not find a suggestion of any motive behind the act.

He said: "We have no idea of any motivations.

"There were no injuries. The male, we believe, is acting alone and there is no ongoing threat to the community."

He emphasised that the threat to the community was low after the incident.

He said: "I just need to reassure people that the airport is safe, that ACT Policing have responded, and there is no ongoing threat to the community or to passengers arriving and departing."

Police notified travellers and other members of the public to avoid the airport where possible.

All flights were grounded following the incident, but the airport reopened at 5.00pm.

No flights have departed since 1.20pm (AEST), according to the Canberra Airport website.

Five planes were still on the tarmac with passengers inside waiting to disembark when the incident commenced.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed by the Australian Federal Police and that there is ‘no ongoing threat present’.

He said in a statement on Twitter: “Have been briefed by the AFP on the incident at Canberra Airport this afternoon. I am advised a man has been detained and there is no ongoing threat present.”

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