Hundreds of passengers have been evacuated from Canberra airport following reports of a shooting in the Australian capital. The Austrian Federal Police are currently guarding the building while dozens of police vehicles and armed officers are stationed outside.
Flights have been suspended as a police spokesman confirmed an incident had occurred.
There are currently no reports of injuries.
In a subsequent statement, ACT police said they had been notified of the incident at 1.30pm local time (4.30am BST).
They added: “Shortly after a person was detained and a firearm was recovered.
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“CCTV has been reviewed and it is currently believed that the person in custody is the only person responsible for this incident.”
ACT police have urged the public not to visit the airport at this time and will provide a further update later in the day.
Witnesses have begun describing the alleged attack to the Australian Guardian.
One witness complained that they had not been given any new information and even claimed that there was no alarm or announcement via the airport’s PA system.
A man, who declined to give his name, said he was running his luggage through the security X-ray machine when the shooting began.
The man also claimed that guards yelled at people to leave their belongings and run away, adding that he is concerned about getting his cell phone and wallet back.
Another witness, named Helen, who traveled to Melbourne with her husband, claimed she saw a “tight” middle-aged man with a gun.
She claimed to have witnessed the man “shooting into the air” and heard about six shots.
She said, “Security said ‘run, run, so we all ran out’.”
Josh Butler, reporting for the Guardian Australia, is still at the airport and has reported that the gunman has been arrested but has not been charged at this time.
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Police have not released any further details about the alleged shooter.
Mr Butler has also reported seeing “bullet holes and cracked glass” in the windows of Canberra airport after the attack.
Journalist Louise Milligan for ABC’s 4corners reported that she was in the Qantas lounge when the shooting happened.
She wasn’t sure at the time if she was being evacuated.
Ms Milligan says police questioned people about what they had seen or heard and checked the terminal to make sure it was safe.