(Stillness in the Storm Editor) This story is breaking at the moment. The MSM media has implied that the shooting could be a “terrorist” attack, but hasn’t made any official statements as of yet. However, in the second article in this post from Heavy reported that Esteban—the alleged shooter—was named in an ISIS connected news outlet before MSNBC reported the name. This could suggest that the shooting is related to the alleged terrorist group, which would raise questions as to if this event was a false flag attack.
(RT News) Multiple fatalities have been confirmed in a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The suspected attacker was taken into custody.
“Multiple people” were dead, Broward County Sheriff’s Office told the media. At least five deaths were confirmed.
Source – RT News
Shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport; At Least 5 Dead
by RT News Staff Writer, January 6th, 2017
Eight people were injured and transported to an area hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
“Shooter is in custody and unharmed,” said Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. “No law enforcement officers fired any shots.”
He confirmed that there was no second shooting despite previous reports. The suspect was being interrogated by the FBI.
On going situation at Fort Lauderdale Airport where people are injured after an active shooter opened fire. ⚠ pic.twitter.com/8QNJQyuimF— Flight Alerts ⚠ (@FlightAlerts777) January 6, 2017
“The subject was arrested without incident,” Israel clarified. “At this point it looks like he acted alone.”
The shooter reportedly traveled with his gun legally, checking it with other luggage. Upon picking up his bags, however, he then took his gun and ammunition into a restroom before returning to baggage claim and opening fire, according to Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca.
“The shooter was a passenger on a Canadian flight with a checked gun,” LaMarca wrote on his Facebook page. “He claimed his bag and took the gun from baggage and went into the bathroom to load it. Came out shooting people in baggage claim. There were 13 total shot, 5 dead, 8 transported to hospital.”
Reuters reported that Santiago had checked a 9mm pistol and arrived in Florida on a Canadian flight from Alaska, via Minneapolis.
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) confirmed that the gunman carried a military ID for Esteban Santiago, a 26-year-old Army National Guard soldier.
First picture of the shooter released by eye witness via Twistity! @CNN @FoxNews #FortLauderdale #Termianl2 #Shooting #EstebanSantiago pic.twitter.com/np3CUKNr41— Twistity (@TwistityNews) January 6, 2017
A photo of the alleged attacker has been posted on social media, but has not been verified by the authorities.
CBS News reports that in November 2016, the shooting suspect walked into an FBI office in Anchorage, Alaska, to report being forced to fight for ISIS.
NEW: In Nov. 2016, FLL suspect walked into FBI office in Anchorage, claiming he was being forced to fight for ISIS, sources tell CBS News.— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 6, 2017
Florida Governor Rick Scott traveled to Fort Lauderdale to oversee the government response.
In a press conference around 5:15pm Eastern, Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) said that he reached out to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence “quite a few times,” citing a personal relationship. He said “this is not a time to be political” after acknowledging to reporters that he did not reach out to President Barack Obama.
The governor also highlighted the ease of cooperation between state and federal officials responding to and investigating the shooting.
.@browardsheriff Scott Israel: Suspect was taken into custody w/o incident. pic.twitter.com/mSeluTPrcK— Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) January 6, 2017
Broward County authorities said the shooting began outside the terminal and continued inside at the baggage claim. Photos from the scene show at least two victims outside the building.
A graphic video from inside the terminal shows bloodied victims in the baggage claim area.
#Florida #BreakingNews #FLLSHOOTING Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport #Shooting#Warleak pic.twitter.com/XkU79MTx1J— WarLeak (@WarLeak) January 6, 2017
All services were suspended at all terminals of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation, Special Agent in Charge George Piro told reporters. If the motive points to terrorism, the sheriff’s department will turn the investigation over to the FBI, Israel said.
Panicked at airport pic.twitter.com/XeiCtAUoWO— julie k. brown (@jknipebrown) January 6, 2017
The FLL airport authorities confirmed the incident took place in Terminal 2, but did not offer any further details. Terminal 2 is served by Delta Airlines and Air Canada.
FLL handles 80-100,000 passengers on a typical day, director Mark Gale told reporters. Airport authorities are working with the police to clear the terminals and release everyone both inside the buildings and still on the tarmac.
At 2:26pm Eastern time, more shots were reported at the parking garage in Terminal 1, and there was police activity in other terminals previously unaffected by the shooting at Terminal 2.
Mayor Sharief told MSNBC there was no second shooter, however, and that police were searching the airport out of abundance of caution.
Passengers inside the terminals were instructed to continue sheltering in place.
— Pablo E Gil Engell (@pablogilengell) January 6, 2017
We are on the runway #fortlauderdaleairport – confusion and panic as we were evacuated with screaming and chaos. Such confusion and fear. pic.twitter.com/02OahHwi9i— Matthew Collins (@boadazapha) January 6, 2017
found on The Free Thought Project
Is ISIS Behind the Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting?
by Heavy Staff Writer, January 6th, 2017
Is the Islamic State the motivator for Esteban Santiago, the alleged gunman of today’s attack at the baggage claim area of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport in Florida?
CNN reports that 5 are dead with multiple others injured. John Cardillo, a radio host, reportedthat there may be multiple shooters. However, the Broward County mayor, Barbara Sharief, denied this.
Is it the Islamic State? As of now it is unconfirmed, but comparisons are being made of today’s attack to the summer 2016 attack on Ataturk Airport in Turkey. On June 28, three suicide bombers killed 45 people and injured more than 230. However, ISIS never officially claimed the attack, reports CNN.
It can also be noted that after today’s shooting, ISIS terrorist channels knew Esteban’s name before some news corporations reported it. A U.S. senator gave Esteban’s name out live on MSNBC. It is unclear if ISIS channels spread his name before MSNBC. Esteban is now in custody.
TRACKING – IS-linked Telegram channels posted Arabic transliteration of #FortLauderdale airport shooter’s name before @CNN @FoxNews reported pic.twitter.com/5fjPa9KUnJ— Michael S. Smith II (@MichaelSSmithII) January 6, 2017
If claimed, the attack would be the second ISIS attack this year, with the first being the Reina Nightclub attack in Istanbul, Turkey. In that attack, a gunman, who was incorrectly stated to have been dressed as Santa Claus, armed with a long-barreled weapon, shot and killed a policeman and a civilian around 1:45 a.m. on January 1 before entering the club and opening fire, reports the New York Post. 39 people were killed.
Before that was the Christmas market attack that killed 12 and injured 48 at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany.
However, the last ISIS-affiliated attack in the United States occurred in November, when Somali refugee Abdul Razak Ali Artan drove a car into a group of people after pulling a fire alarm on a building.
Find more ISIS news, photos and videos here.
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