Man in custody after Canberra airport shooting

A man is in custody after an Australian airport was plunged into lockdown following a shooting.

Hundreds of passengers were left afraid and shocked after Canberra Airport was evacuated and flights were suspended due to a random shooting.

Five gunshots were fired outside the security checkpoint in the main terminal building about 1.30pm on Sunday.

ACT Police Detective Acting Superintendent Dave Craft told media one man had been arrested, and the weapon seized.

He said nobody had been injured.

Footage posted to social media shows a man being handcuffed and detained by officers not long after he fired the shots.

Services were suspended for several hours, but flights were due to resume about 5pm, despite the airport remaining an active crime scene.

Police say they were expecting to charge the man later on Sunday.

Grainy video posted to Facebook shows a man being detained by police inside the airport. Picture: Facebook

Police have “no idea” of any motivation of the shooter, but it appeared as thought he had been acting alone.

“There is no ongoing threat to the community,” Detective Craft said.

“At this stage, it’s our understanding that the male arrived at the airport and had not gone through any flight screening process.”

Police say the man had not been firing at people, with no shots directed to people, passengers or staff.

The bullets hit a number of glass panes but did not break them.

Images show bullet holes and smashed glass panels in the windows near the Qantas check-in counters. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

One man was inside waiting for his son when he heard the bullets ring out above him.

“I saw the glass falling down and I thought maybe the glass had exploded,” he told NCA Newswire

“Everyone ran for their lives.

“I didn’t think it was a bullet at first. Then I heard everyone running and I ran.”

Other witnesses reported being yelled at to “get down, get down”.

One woman who asked not to be named told NCA Newswire she saw the man, who she described as middle age and “clean cut”, fire a weapon half a dozen times.

OK yes, apparently gunfire. We are all outside now and police are questioning people about what they saw and heard. They’re checking inside the terminal to make sure it is OK. pic.twitter.com/Dlgwcrr54D

— Louise Milligan (@Milliganreports) August 14, 2022

There is a heavy police presence around Canberra Airport after it was evacuated due to what is understood to have been a shooting in the check-in concourse. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The airport was quickly evacuated with hundreds of people left standing outside the building in the freezing cold.

“CCTV has been reviewed and at this time the person in custody is believed to be the only person responsible for this incident,” ACT Policing said in a statement.

More than a dozen police vehicles were stationed outside the airport while armed offices guarded the outside of the building for several hours.

By 4pm, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed by the AFP on the “incident”.

“I am advised a man has been detained and there is no ongoing threat present,” Mr Albanese wrote on Twitter.

Senator Katy Gallagher took to Twitter to say she was “shocked” by the news.

Shocked to hear this news. Our local airport is such an important part of Canberra community and it must have been terrifying for everyone @CanberraAirport this afternoon. Thanks so much to first responders for keeping everyone safe. https://t.co/cW5rdGWHgA

— Katy Gallagher (@SenKatyG) August 14, 2022

“Our local airport is such an important part of Canberra community and it must have been terrifying for everyone @CanberraAirport this afternoon,” she wrote.

Images posted to social media show bullet holes and smashed glass panels where the gunman allegedly aimed the shots.

See the damage caused to these windows by 3 gunshots fired at Canberra airport near check-in. Airport evacuated and big AFP presence as they sweep the entire terminal and interview the alleged shooter. pic.twitter.com/AdlOf3FWvd

— Fran Kelly (@frankelly08) August 14, 2022

No planes are understood to have been diverted, but outbound flights were grounded for several hours.

At least five planes full of passengers were asked to remain taxied on the tarmac until police reopened the airport to arrivals about 3.30pm.

Departing passengers were allowed in a short time later.

Multiple police officers are talking to witnesses who were at the airport at the time of the shooting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage