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JFK airport evacuated: Panic and confusion over reports of a shooter and gunshots fired

A MASS evacuation occurred at JFK airport in New York after reports of gunfire. But a police source said a crowd watching the Rio Olympics may have been to blame.

Staff writers and wires
2 min read
August 15, 2016 - 3:47PM
News Corp Australia Network
US NY: JFK Airport Terminal 8 Evacuated as Police Investigate 'Gunshots' August 14

A MASS evacuation was ordered at JFK airport in New York after reports of gunfire. But a police source said a crowd watching the Rio Olympics on TV may have been to blame.

A senior law enforcement official told NBC News that cheering, clapping and banging from people watching the Olympic Games may have been misinterpreted as a fight and gunshots.

The official also told NBC News a woman coming off a plane said she thought she’d heard gunfire. Two other law enforcement officials also said at least one person reported having heard gunfire.

The initial alarm spread through Terminal 8 and to Terminal 1, the official said.

“There are no reported injuries or arrests at this time,” the agency said.

“Preliminary investigation does not indicate shots were fired at JFK.”

Port Authority police say they have not found any firearms, rounds of ammunition, shell casings or other evidence of gunfire.

Police evacuated Terminal 8 as a precaution after receiving reports of shots fired near the departures area around 9.30pm local time.

A short time later, police closed Terminal 1 after they say they received additional reports of shots fired in that terminal. An expressway approaching the airport also was shut down.

The New York Police Department was called in to assist. An NYPD Emergency Services Unit officer with automatic weapons scoured the area and passengers were taking cover outside cement traffic barriers. No one was injured.

“The terminal was evacuated out of an abundance of caution,” the Port Authority said.

“Travellers should contact their carriers.”

A ground stop was in place until 12.30am local time for “security” reasons, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Around that time, New York Police Department Special Operations Division Chief Harry Wedin said all terminals had been “searched & cleared.”

“All affected terminals will resume operations shortly. No shots were fired,” he added on Twitter.

After the evacuation was underway, pictures and video emerged on social media of people being evacuated from the airport, as they expressed their confusion over the incident.

Witness Bryan Liston filmed himself in Terminal 8 during the evacuation using Facebook Live, saying they were being escorted out of the airport by armed police.

In his video he said: “There is armed police everywhere right now” and “we’re not even allowed to pick up our luggage”.

“They’re pushing everybody out of the entire building,” he said.

He also tweeted that more evacuations occured after a Lufthansa flight had arrived.

Witness Dan Archer tweeted that police told them “it’s not safe to stay here”, as they were removed from Terminal 8.

He also tweeted that they were able to collect their belongings and the situation had been cleared.

The airlines operating out of the Terminal 8 departure area include Alaska Airlines, Air Berlin, American Airlines, American Eagle, Finnair, LARAM, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and LATAM.

Passengers on other planes bound for JFK were diverted away from the airport as the incident was investigated.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/active-shooter-at-jfk-airport-report/news-story/c49e95eefbf4c3d9387d14f7c800aba0