Canberra Airport shooting: Terrified travellers tell of horror as shots rang out

Holidaymakers have revealed their fright after five gunshots were fired at Canberra Airport.

Passengers were evacuated, planes were grounded and parts of the airport were locked down after the incident about 1.30pm on Sunday.

Police were quickly on the scene and arrested the gunman.

No one was hurt in the shooting.

Footage posted to social media shows a man being handcuffed and detained by officers.

ACT Police said the gun used in the shooting had been secured and the man was acting alone.

Camera Icon There is a heavy police presence at the airport. Credit: News Corp Australia

A man waiting for a flight with his son said he heard the shots ring out.

“I saw the glass falling down and I thought maybe the glass had exploded,” he said.

“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 said people were shouting: “Get down, get down.”

One woman said she saw the shooter, who she described as middle age and “clean cut”, fire a pistol half a dozen times.

ACT Police Acting Supt Dave Craft said the shots were not aimed at people and the man had not gone through security screening before the shooting took place.

He said the airport remained an active crime scene and police were working to secure the area to allow the hundreds of passengers waiting for their flights into the building.

Police have “no idea” about the motivations of the gunman.

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

Canberra Airport remains closed to the public, with the top floor of the airport an active crime scene.

Flights in and out of the airport have been stopped while police secure the terminal.

Police have said there is no ongoing threat to the community or to other passengers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the airport incident.

Finance Minister and ACT senator Katy Gallagher said she had been shocked by the event.

“Our local airport is such an important part of the Canberra community and it must have been terrifying for everyone,” she said on Twitter.

“Thanks so much to the first responders for keeping everyone safe.”

Officers are working with airport staff and airlines to reopen the airport to the public as soon as possible.

Images on social media have shown large bullet holes in window panels of the terminal.

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

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

Video online has shown police interviewing evacuated passengers for witness statements.

Passengers on planes on the tarmac at the time of the incident remain aboard.