AP/Damian Dovarganes [13K] |
Posted on 07/04/2002 6:33:39 PM PDT by tallhappy
Three Dead in L.A. Airport Shooting
By RYAN PEARSON
Associated Press Writer
AP/Damian Dovarganes [13K]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A gunman opened fire Thursday at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport, killing two people before an airline security guard shot him dead, authorities said.
The FBI said there was no immediate indication that the shootings were connected to terrorism, and that the gunman acted alone. ``It appears this was an isolated incident,'' Mayor James Hahn 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.
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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.
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.
One of the victims was Yakov Aminov, 46, relatives at his Los Angeles home confirmed. A woman who answered the telephone there said the family was too shocked to speak to anyone. He was dropping friends off at the airport, and died of gunshot wounds, hospital officials said.
Also fatally shot was a woman in her 20s. The airline said she was an employee of a company that provides ground services to El Al at Los Angeles airport.
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. Asked about reports of the stab wounds, FBI spokesman Rich Garcia said, ``there are various weapons that we're looking at.'' El Al said one of the injured was a security officer hurt ``while the attacker was being neutralized.''
Two other people underwent treatment for heart problems, fire officials said.
El Al had one flight scheduled out of Los Angeles on Thursday, Flight 106 to Toronto and Tel Aviv, said David Douek, a spokesman for the Israeli consulate here. It was scheduled to depart at 4:10 p.m. In Israel early Friday, El Al said about 10 passengers were checking in for the flight when the attack began and about 80 others already had passed through the area.
The governor praised the airline's response, saying security agents acted quickly and prevented a greater loss of life.
``Like all Californians, I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn of today's shooting,'' 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, Hakin Hasidh, 43, of Dusseldorf, Germany, said he was standing in the line 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,'' 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.''
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. Twenty outbound flights were delayed, disrupting travel plans for 6,000 passengers, Hahn said. Five hours after the shooting, most of the international terminal had reopened. Some 900,000 people had been expected to pass through the airport Thursday.
Fire officials deployed a team to check for hazardous materials.
Airport police detained and questioned a man who was acting suspiciously in the terminal, but he was not considered a suspect, Cmdr. David Kalish said. The man was picked up on a different level of the terminal, and was not believed connected to the shooter, he said.
``There are no other suspects,'' Kalish said.
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 Los Angeles International 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.
I found AP and other news sources are saying he is 52. But they do not say ethnicity.
How can they know he is 52, but not be able to provide any other description. Debka said:
Yakov Aminov, 46, and 20-year Old Ground Hostess -- Both from Los Angeles – Died in Shooting Attack Thursday at El Al Ticket Counter of Los Angeles Airport
The Gunman Described as Arab Aged 52 Was Shot Dead by El Al Security Guards Haim Sapir, Head of El Al Security, Sustained Stab Wounds When He Tackled Gunman Six More Wounded from Line Waiting to Board El Al 106 to Tel Aviv Via Toronto
They would hire the goodyear blimp to fly all over LA flashing: "It's just a white guy.. go and spend money."
Ah yes, our "friends" the Saudis.
Religion-of-Peace-bump
Because his name is probably Mohammed and the media is trying to figure out a way to spin this little fact while saying it was an isolated, non-terrorist incident.
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Mark Ezerzer, 55, reflects while speaking about his brother-in-law, Yakov Aminov, outside Aminov's home in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles, Thursday, July 4, 2002. Aminov was killed in a shooting Thursday at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport, relatives said. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson) - Jul 04 9:23 PM ET |
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Mark Ezerzer, 55, of West Hollywood, Calif., talks about his brother-in-law, Yakov Aminov, outside Aminov's home in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles, Thursday, July 4, 2002. Aminov's relatives said he was killed in the Thursday shootings at El Al's ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson) - Jul 04 9:27 PM ET |
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Family and friends of Yakov Aminov, who was killed by a gunman in a shooting at Los Angeles International Airport earlier in the day Thursday, July 4, 2002, in Los Angeles, sit outside Amoniv's home in North Hollywood, Calif. The gunman opened fire Thursday at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter at LAX, killing two people before an airline security guard shot him dead, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson) - Jul 04 9:29 PM ET |
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Thousands of travelers return to the international terminal of the Los Angeles International Airport after being evacuated following a shooting at the ticket counter of Israel's El Al airlines on July 4, 2002. A gunman shot and killed two people The FBI said there was no indication of a terrorist connection in the mid-morning airport shooting, which ended swiftly when security guards employed by Israel's national airline shot and killed the 52-year-old assailant. REUTERS/Adrees Latif - Jul 04 8:50 PM ET |
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Police remove what is believed to be the body of a gunman who shot and killed two people when he opened fire at the El Al airline ticket desk at Los Angeles International airport on July 4, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. The FBI said there was no indication of a terrorist connection in the mid-morning airport shooting, which ended swiftly when security guards employed by Israel's national airline shot and killed the 52 year-old assailant. REUTERS/Adrees Latif - Jul 04 8:39 PM ET |
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Police surround what is believed to be the body of a gunman who shot and killed two people when he opened fire at the El Al airline ticket desk at Los Angeles International airport on July 4, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. The FBI said there was no indication of a terrorist connection in the mid-morning airport shooting, which ended swiftly when security guards employed by Israel's national airline shot and killed the assailant. Photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters - Jul 04 8:34 PM ET |
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Police surround what is believed to be the body of a gunman who shot and killed two people when he opened fire at the El Al airline ticket desk at Los Angeles International airport on July 4, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. The FBI said there was no indication of a terrorist connection in the mid-morning airport shooting, which ended swiftly when security guards employed by Israel's national airline shot and killed the assailant. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) - Jul 04 8:33 PM ET |
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An airport police officer stands at the lower level of terminal five with passengers evacuated from the Tom Bradley international terminal July 4, 2002 at Los Angeles International Airport following a shooting at the El Al airline ticket counter. (Fred Prouser/Reuters) - Jul 04 8:33 PM ET |
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At least two people were shot and killed on July 4, 2002 in what officials described as a 'multiple victim' shooting at the El Al ticket desk at Los Angeles International Airport. The airport is shown on Sept. 11, 2001. (Jim Ruymen/Reuters) - Jul 04 8:33 PM ET |
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Police surround what is believed to be the body of a gunman who shot and killed two people when he opened fire at the El Al airline ticket desk at Los Angeles International airport on July 4, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. The FBI said there was no indication of a terrorist connection in the mid-morning airport shooting, which ended swiftly when security guards employed by Israel's national airline shot and killed the 52 year-old assailant. REUTERS/Adrees Latif - Jul 04 8:26 PM ET |
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Kathy Campbell, far right, looks for her daughter who is arriving from Sweden, Thursday, July 4, 2002, outside the Los Angeles International Airport. A gunman opened fire at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter, killing two people before an airline security guard shot him dead. Thousands were evacuated from the international terminal, although the Federal Aviation Administration said all domestic arrivals and departures continued to operate normally. (AP Photo / Ric Francis) - Jul 04 8:16 PM ET |
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Two unidentified passengers greet one another as a flight arrives Thursday, July 4 2002, at the Los Angeles International Airport. A gunman opened fire at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter, killing two people before an airline security guard shot him dead, authorities said. Thousands were evacuated from the terminal, although the Federal Aviation Administration said all domestic arrivals and departures continued to operate normally. (AP Photo/Ric Francis) - Jul 04 8:10 PM ET |
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A van from the Los Angeles coroner's office is parked in front of the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport following a shooting at the El Al airline ticket counter which resulted in the deaths of two bystanders and the gunman, July 4, 2002. The FBI said there was no indication of a terrorist connection in the mid-morning airport shooting, which ended swiftly when security guards employed by Israel's national airline shot and killed the 52 year-old assailant. Five other people were injured. REUTERS/Fred Prouser - Jul 04 8:08 PM ET |
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Russian relatives of the victims of last Monday's plane collision carry flowers while leaving their TU-154 Tupolev passenger plane upon arrival at the airport of Friedrichshafen, southern Germany, Thursday, July 4, 2002. Relatives visited the crash site where 72 persons died when a Russian Tupolev jet of Bashkirian Airlines collided with a Boeing 757 cargo plane of the DHL International delivery service over Germany late Monday night, July 1, 2002. (AP Photo/Jan Pitman) - Jul 04 7:57 PM ET |
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Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief David Gascon, center, addressed the media outside the Los Angeles International Airport, Thursday, July 4, 2002, in Los Angeles, as Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, right, and FBI Special agent Richard Garcia, left, look on. A gunman opened fire Thursday at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter, killing two people before an airline security guard shot him dead, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ric Francis) - Jul 04 7:50 PM ET |
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Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, center at microphone, is surrounded by law enforcement officials as he talks to the media, Thursday, July 4, 2002, outside Los Angeles International Airport. A gunman opened fire Thursday at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter, killing two people before an airline security guard shot him dead. Hahn said there was no immediate indication that the shootings were connected to terrorism. "It appears this was an isolated incident," he said. (AP Photo / Ric Francis) - Jul 04 7:52 PM ET |
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Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn addresses members of the media, Thursday, July 4 2002, at a news conference at the Los Angeles International Airport, after a shooting inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal. FBI special agent Richard Garcia is at left. A gunman opened fire at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter earlier in the day. Three people were killed, including the attacker, who was shot dead by an airline security guard, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ric Francis) - Jul 04 7:28 PM ET |
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Passengers stand behind police lines at the arrival area of the Los Angeles International Airport after police closed the terminal to travellers, Thursday, July 4, 2002. A gunman opened fire at Israel's El Al airlines ticket counter. Three people were killed, including the attacker, who was shot dead by an airline security guard, authorities said. (AP Photo /Krista Niles) - Jul 04 7:03 PM ET |
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Wreckage from a twin engine airplane that went down in a crowded lakeside park is seen Thursday July 4, 2002, in San Dimas Calif. One person was killed and 16 injured, some of them children, after the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Brackett Field, a small airport near the park according to officials from the Federal Aviation Administration. (AP Photo /Nick Ut) - Jul 04 6:54 PM ET |
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Unidentified Israelis wait for relatives in the arrivals hall in Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv Thursday July 4, 2002.Gunfire erupted Thursday at the ticket counter of Israel's El Al airlines at Los Angeles International Airport, killing the gunman and two others, police said. The shooting occurred at midday of Independence Day, with security around the country on high alert for a possible terrorist attack. (AP Photo/Eitan Hess-Ashkenazi). - Jul 04 6:45 PM ET |
Tragedy in the airport of Los Angeles:two passengers perished, seven were injured
Yesterday, on 4 June, during the day of the independence OF THE USA, unknown terrorist opened fire/light in the booking office of Israeli airline it ate AL in Los -andjelesskom to airport LCAcKh. Malefactor slowly approached the booking office of Israeli airline and shot at the clerk, and then opened fire/light according to the passengers of voyage 106 (Los Angeles.Toronto.Tel Aviv).
It is assumed that in that shot was the accomplices. The workers of the service of safety of company ate AL they opened return fire they killed that attacked. According to the information of the police, criminal there were 52 years.It was the citizen of Saudi Arabia. The victims of criminal became the killed on the spot 20- summer woman and the 46- summer inhabitant of Los Angeles the yaks of amines, that passed away later with the operation in the hospital. Six of seven injured passengers are delivered into the hospital, one is shown/rendered medical aid on the spot.Among the injured - colleague of safety of airline, whom the criminal wounded by knife.
The airport of Los Angeles is closed.The machines of "first aid/ambulance" and the police overlapped all entrances to the airport. All passengers were quickly evacuated. The motives of that attacked are not thus far clear; however, to American special services it was known that the Islamic extremists planned/glided to arrange during the day of the independence OF THE USA terakty in the American cities.It is remarkable, that the shooting began in the cashbox of Israeli airline. The representative of the airport Of aleks Of bayez stated that in the attack two people could participate.Horace Frank reported to the Press- attache of the police of Los of Angeles that in connection with the incident two people are already delayed and wide investigation is conducted.
The minister of transport of Israel Ephraim Sne named/called that occurred teraktom."organizations, first of all Islamic extremist organizations, planned/glided to deliver impact/shock on the Israeli objects beyond the limits of our state.Their main target/purpose were airports ", he said. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Szymon Perez, "there are no doubts, that the tragedy, which occurred in the airport of Los Angeles.terakt, directed against the citizens of Israel and United States ".He also stated that Israel together with THE USA was intended to find critical for terakt. At the taking place in the airport of Los Angeles press conference came forward the mayor of Los Angeles Dzheyms Of khaan, representative OF FBR Richard Garcia, the chief for the administration of the police of Martin Pomeroy city and the general consul of Israel. Official statement from federal bureau of investigations soon entered.The special services OF THE USA does not consider that the skirmish in the international airport of Los Angeles has terrorist nature.In their opinion, the discussion deals with the "separate incident".
The management/manual of company ate AL it reported that the attack in the airport of Los Angeles in no way will influence the situation with the air flights.All planned international voyages will be accomplished according to the timetable// to semya0.ru
F.B.I. news conference expected shortly according to FOX.
Sorry, it is again Russian and it says the same thing (Saudi). But it attributes the info to the "european news agencies"...
No, you saw a howard stern prankster..
Yes, I can read it. No name, but of course the police/FBI have it (otherwise how would they know he was 52?).
Here we go, hang on everybody.........
........I get a feeling that what we are going to see is a wave of 'American citizens' named Ahmed popping out of the woodwork engaging in a little 'freelance' support for their jihadist compatriots. The liberal media will be sure to shout, "There is no known connection to (Hamas, whatever). It was a lone gunman acting on his own, not a true act of terrorism. See, they aren't all terrorists."
We could have an attack of this nature a day for a year and they would insist that each and every one is an 'isolated incident'.
We went to a party in the park and I got a GREY DAVIS bumper sticker for the Republican County Chairman back in Lake Jackson, Texas -- my other home.
At the Claremont 4th of July parade there were four men carrying the DEMOCRATIC CLUB banner and it was just total silence as they marched by. Then they had a Demoncrapic candidate in a convertible, and still, total silence. A few min. later here came four women with the Republican Party banner, and LOUD APPLAUSE!!!! Then came aa SUV with a lifesize cardboard cut-out of "W" standing up through the sun roof. LOUD applause, and I thought there was going to be a standing ovulation for a minute. Evidently there are a LOT of Conservatives in this town. I could go ahead and register to vote out here, I will be here till at least Jan. Then maybe I could vote AGAINST Grey Davis, Feinstein, and Boxer!!!!
KIF radio is planning an SUV/mini-van parade here soon. I will post info as soon as it is available. I sent them my phone number. It would be a grand protest against the new SUV restrictions passed here in Calif.
Happy 4th!!!!
Barbara in Los Angeles
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