A shooter opened fire at the baggage carousel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in the US, killing five people before being taken into custody, officials and witnesses said.
The local sheriff's office said eight more people were wounded in the incident.
The shooter, who said nothing, appeared to be a man in his 20s wearing a Star Wars T-shirt who was shot by police as he attempted to reload, MSNBC reported, citing witnesses.
He carried a US military identification, US Senator Bill Nelson of Florida told MSNBC.
John Schlicher, who told MSNBC he saw the attack, described the shooter as a "slender man" who was "directly firing at us" while passengers waited for their bags to come off the carousel.
"I put my head down and prayed," Mr Schlicher said, adding that his wife gave first aid to someone who had been shot in the head.
Pictures from the scene show Florida passengers being moved into safe areas after a shooting at the airport https://t.co/vPi6qTDyMm pic.twitter.com/LsFRONfzJ7
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 6, 2017
Security officials corralled passengers into safe areas including at least one open space on the runway apron, according to images on cable news networks.
About 90 minutes after the attack, when the scene had appeared calm, panic broke out anew with passengers and police running frantically about the airport.
Dozens of police sprinted back and forth with automatic weapons drawn, directing a large group of travellers.
Ari Fleischer, a former press secretary for US President George W Bush, said on Twitter shots were fired and "everyone is running".
"All seems calm now but the police aren't letting anyone out of the airport - at least not the area where I am," Mr Fleischer said.
All services are temporarily suspended at #FLL. Please contact your air carrier about your flight information. https://t.co/Uwbaa6n6aB
— Ft. Laude-Hlwd Int'l (@FLLFlyer) January 6, 2017
Monitoring the terrible situation in Florida. Just spoke to Governor Scott. Thoughts and prayers for all. Stay safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017
A woman tended to a bleeding, seated man outside an airport building, according to a photo posted on Twitter by a Michigan information technology company.
The shooting took place at the Terminal 2 baggage claim area, said a post on the airport's Twitter account.
Florida Governor Rick Scott was traveling to Fort Lauderdale to be briefed by law enforcement, his office said in a statement.
The FBI's Miami office was "aware of the situation" and in contact with local authorities, a spokesman said in an email. No further information was immediately available.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the second largest in South Florida, serving as an intercontinental gateway, with Miami International Airport known as the primary airport for international flights in the area.
Praying for the victims and everyone at the #FortLauderdale airport. #FLL
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 6, 2017
The Florida attack was the latest in a series of mass shootings that have plagued the United States in recent years, some inspired by militants with an extreme view of Islam, others who are loners who have easy access to weapons under US gun laws.
The deadliest mass shooting in modern US history took place last June, when a gunman apparently inspired by the so-called Islamic State killed 53 people and wounded 49 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
One of the most shocking took place in 2012, when a man entered a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut, and shot dead 20 children and six adults.
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