Part of Los Angeles International Airport was briefly closed late Sunday (Monday European time) after loud noises were heard that sounded like gunfire, possibly caused by a man dressed in a black Zorro outfit who was later detained by police.
Passengers who fled in panic after hearing the noises slowly filtered back to the busy airport, as the departure and arrival areas of the central terminal that were closed for a police sweep were re-opened.
LAX going off. http://pic.twitter.com/8hO7lqL5HG
— sam macon (@sayczars) August 29, 2016
“Report of shooting at LAX proven to be LOUD NOISES only,” Los Angeles Police Department chief spokesman Andy Neiman wrote on Twitter.
“No Shots Fired No Injuries investigation continues to locate source,” he added.
Before things got really crazy – a man in a Zorro costume with a plastic sword was arrested. http://pic.twitter.com/COdNEIb1pL
— sam macon (@sayczars) August 29, 2016
However an individual “in Zorro costume has been detained” by airport police, airport authorities wrote on Twitter. It was not immediately known what role the individual played in the incident.
Following the reports of an active shooter, passengers “in several LAX terminals self-evacuated onto the tarmac and rushed through federal security screening without being properly screened,” airport public relations director Nancy Suey Castles said after the terminal was cleared.
Many passengers however were “being screened by explosive detection K-9 units” before being allowed to enter the terminals for re-screening, she said, adding that reports “of an active shooter at LAX were unfounded.”
