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JFK Airport shooting: Shots fired 'were just Olympic cheering'

Police evacuate travelers from airport terminal after reports of shots fired

Feliks Garcia
New York
Monday 15 August 2016 02:56 BST
Travelers evacuate Terminal 8 at JFK International Airport after reports of shots fired Robbie Rob/Twitter
Travelers evacuate Terminal 8 at JFK International Airport after reports of shots fired Robbie Rob/Twitter

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Reports of shots being fired in the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York may have been cheering for the Olympics, an official has said.

Police evacuated travelers from a terminal airport after reports of shots fired.

However, Port Authority investigators found no indication of gunfire in the aiport.

"Preliminary investigation does not indicate shots were fired at JFK," the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey said in a statement late Sunday night. "There are no injuries. At this time, no gun shells or other evidence of shots fired has been found."

One official told NBC News the noise could have been cheering and banging from people watching the Olympics.

NYPD also issued a brief statement shortly before midnight confirming that nobody had been shot and it "appeared" a gun had not been fired.

According to Pix 11, multiple calls reporting a shooting in Terminal 8 came in around 9.30 pm. Witnesses said they heard two shots fired.

Security had closed the gates at security checkpoints, and Terminals 1 and 8 were evacuated "out of an abundance of caution".

PAPD added that there is "substantial" police presence – including the NYPD – and both JFK and La Guardia aiports.

Planes were diverted from the terminal, and no flights are cleared for take off while police investigate the scene.

An investigation is still ongoing.

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