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Five killed in Florida airport shooting, one suspect in custody

At least five people were killed in a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida.
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FLORIDA — Five people are dead and at least nine are injured after a shooting at the Ft. Lauderdale airport in Florida, says officials. More than a dozen people have been taken to the hospital. A suspect is in custody.

The first call came in around 12: 55 Eastern Time, says the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

Multiple reports on social media — including tweets from former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, described the shooting.

Gene Messina told CNN he’d arrived at the airport as people were being evacuated from the terminal.

“I got off the plane and I saw people running and screaming,” he said. “At first I was in shock but when I saw TSA agents running, I booked.”

The shooting occurred in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2, officials said, which were evacuated. Aerial footage from CNN affiliates showed large groups of people standing outside on the tarmac.

More than an hour after the shooting, officials had allowed people to return into the airport, but tensions were still running high, a witness told CNN.

“Everyone sprinted outside again. We are back out on the tarmac,” Judah Fernandez said, adding that it was unclear why people had rushed outside.

Flights are not arriving or departing from the airport (FLL) at this time. Several flights were diverted to other Florida airports, and the FAA has put a stop to all flights around the country coming in to FLL.

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