Lone gunman kills two in airport rampage

FBI investigators were today probing an attack at Los Angeles International Airport during which a lone gunman shot two people dead.

The attacker was himself killed by a security guard after the incident which came as Americans nervously celebrated Independence Day.

Several other people were injured during the shooting near Israel’s El Al airline ticket counter in the airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal at around 7.30pm Irish time yesterday.

The 52-year-old gunman, who has not been identified, had approached the counter and opened fire before being shot by an El Al security guard.

One of the victims was Yakov Aminov, 46, who had been dropping a friend off at the airport.

His brother-in-law, Mark Ezerzer, said Aminov had eight children and his wife was pregnant.

‘‘He loved people and his home was always open,’’ Mr Ezerzer said. ‘‘He was a very honest and a good person.’’

Mr Aminov, a jewellery shop owner, had taken his friend, Michael Shabtay, to the airport.

After being caught in the spray of gunfire, Mr Aminov collapsed in Mr Shabtay’s arms, Mr Ezerzer said.

The other fatality was a woman in her 20s who was an employee of a company that provides ground services to El Al at Los Angeles airport.

Los Angeles mayor James Hahn said: ‘‘A male individual armed with a gun opened fire in the ticket line at El Al.

‘‘Two civilians have been killed, the suspect was subdued and killed by security personnel working for El Al.’’

Thad Weimlein witnessed the attack. He told CNN: ‘‘It was probably eight to 10 shots. People were running and screaming, hitting the floor.

‘‘There were a lot of shots fired, a flurry. Then there was silence. Then there were some more shots.

‘‘A lot of people were hoping it was fireworks, a prank.’’

Another witness, Hakin Hasidh, of Dusseldorf, Germany, said he was standing in the queue next to the El Al counter.

After hearing two shots, he turned and saw the gunman fire at passengers in line.

‘‘The first couple of shots, everybody just stood there, frozen like I was,’’ Mr Hasidh said.

‘‘It’s really hard to tell whether he was aiming at the counter, at people behind the counter or at people in line.’’

California’s governor, Gray Davis, said: ‘‘Like all Californians, I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn of today’s shooting at Los Angeles International Airport.

‘‘That it happened on the day on which we honour 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.’’

Among those injured in the attack were the El Al security guard who tackled the killer and a woman who was shot in the leg.

The airport was immediately closed down and thousands of passengers were evacuated.

Scores of flights were delayed disrupting the travel plans of around 6,000 passengers before the busy airport’s terminals were reopened.

The incident came as the United States was on high alert amid fears of possible terrorist attacks during Fourth of July celebrations.

However FBI special agent Richard Garcia said the shooting appeared to be ‘‘an isolated incident’’ and investigators were not looking for any other suspects.

Nonetheless, Israel’s foreign ministry blamed terrorists for the incident.

‘‘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.

El Al, based in Israel, is known as one of the most security-conscious airlines in the world.

Its formidable security includes armed guards at check-in, sky marshals and extensive searches of luggage.

Passengers are told to arrive three hours ahead of flights to make time for the security checks.

The airline said it is not considering any changes to its security methods as a result of yesterday’s incident.

A statement read: ‘‘El Al is not taking any action or making any changes whatsoever.

‘‘We always have security and because of our security we prevented a great tragedy.’’

Americans had celebrated Independence Day with caution yesterday amid the terror attack fears.

The nation was on heightened alert with military jets patrolling major cities and extra police and troops deployed across the US as Americans marked their first Fourth of July holiday since September 11.

Security was especially high in Washington DC were police with hand held metal detectors frisked 500,000 people attending the annual firework display.

In New York 4,000 police officers, including about 1,600 in civilian clothes, patrolled the streets, while

2,000 National Guard soldiers were on guard at power stations, water supplies, bridges, tunnels and airports.

Los Angeles police were at ‘‘maximum deployment’’ aided by fighter jets patrolling the sky.