LOS ANGELES (July 4) - A gunman opened fire Thursday at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport. Three people were killed, including the attacker, who was shot dead by an airline security guard, authorities said.
Three other people were wounded, including an El Al security guard, authorities said. Thousands were evacuated from the international terminal, although the Federal Aviation Administration said all domestic arrivals and departures continued to operate normally. Byron Tucker, a spokesman for Gov. Gray Davis, said one person was arrested, but FBI Agent Rich Garcia later refused to comment about that.
The shootout happened with security on high alert around the country for a possible terrorist attack on July Fourth. It sent passengers ducking behind counters and hiding in airport offices.
Mayor James Hahn said there was no immediate indication that shooting was connected to terrorism. ''It appears this was an isolated incident,'' Hahn said. Israel's foreign ministry blamed terrorists, but didn't offer any evidence to support the claim.
The 52-year-old gunman had approached another person at the counter and opened fire shortly before noon, said Alex Baez, a police spokesman. There was no immediate indication of his identity, nationality or motive.
An El Al security guard fatally shot the gunman, police said.
Killed were a 46-year-old man and a woman in her 20s, authorities said. In addition, a 61-year-old woman was shot in the ankle, a 40-year-old man was knifed and a man in his 20s was treated for injuries from a pistol-whipping, authorities said. Details about the knifing were not immediately available. Two others underwent treatment for heart problems, fire officials said.
''Like all Californians, I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn of today's shooting at Los Angeles International Airport,'' Davis said in a statement. ''That it happened on the day on which we honor what America stands for - liberty, security and diversity - makes this particularly more tragic.''
''My heart, as well of those of all Californians, aches for the victims of this shooting and their families,'' he said.
A witness, Thad Weimlein, described an initial flurry of fire, followed by silence, then more gunfire.
In an interview with CNN, Weimlein said he saw plainclothes policemen pulling out their guns and badges at the same time.
At first, ''a lot of people thought it was fireworks and a prank,'' Weimlein said. ''It was probably eight to 10 shots. People were hitting the floor.''
Vanessa Spinelli was dropping off her aunt for a flight when she heard the gunshots from nearby the El Al counter.
''At first I thought it was firecrackers, said Spinelli, 26, of Los Angeles. ''Then everybody started screaming.''
''My mom told me this morning to be careful and don't stay at the airport too long because there are warnings out. She was right,'' Spinelli said.
After the shooting, traffic was stopped on the roadway for departing passengers, but moving steadily along the road serving arrivals. Some 900,000 people had been expected to pass through the airport Thursday.
Fire officials deployed a team to check for hazardous materials.
Greg Warren, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said the agency will review security procedures to see if something more needs to be done.
El Al, based in Israel, is known as one of the most security-conscious airlines in the world.
''The terrorists deliberately chose the Fourth of July to carry out their crime on the soil of the United States,'' Israeli foreign ministry spokeswoman Yaffa Ben-Ari said in a statement.
Last year, an Algerian who trained in terrorist camps financed by Osama bin Laden was convicted of plotting to blow up the Los Angeles airport at the height of the millennium holiday travel period. Ahmed Ressam had been arrested in Washington state on Dec. 14, 1999, while entering the country from Canada in a car with a trunk full of explosives.
AP-NY-07-04-02 1813EDT |
