Several Dead and Injured in Shooting at Florida Airport

A shooting at Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Florida, USA, has left several dead and injured, with the Broward County Sheriff's Office reporting the arrest of one individual in connection with the incident. CNN has reported, citing police sources, that five people have been confirmed dead and eight others injured in this incident. Meanwhile, the Associated Press quoted Florida Senator Bill Nelson stating that the shooter was carrying a military identification card with the name Esteban Santiago, although it is unclear if this ID belongs to him. This information has been denied in a conversation with CNN by a former Department of Homeland Security official familiar with the matter. Earlier, AFP reported via the Broward Sheriff's Office's Twitter that 'the shooting incident at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has confirmed several fatalities, and one person is in custody.' The news agency also quoted Barbara Sharief, the mayor of the area, stating that there was only one shooter who is currently in custody. Both Ms. Sharief and Senator Nelson emphasized that the motive for the shooting is still unclear. According to a tweet from Fort Lauderdale Airport, the incident occurred in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2. However, CNN reported, citing airport sources, that there is an unconfirmed report of another shooting at the airport under investigation. Television images from the airport show passengers fleeing, and other video footage indicates passengers wandering on the runway and some being evacuated. CNN states that according to official statistics, nearly 2.5 million passengers used Fort Lauderdale Airport in November 2016, making it the twenty-first busiest airport in the United States. According to the same report, thirty airlines operate at this airport, and many passengers choose it due to its proximity to Florida's cruise ship terminals.