What was supposed to be a calm Saturday afternoon for travelers at Spain’s Gran Canaria Airport turned into a terrifying scene straight out of a thriller movie.
Families and tourists were suddenly sent running for cover when an 18-year-old armed with a knife stormed the terminal, creating chaos before being shot dead by police.
Airport Mayhem as Armed Teen Sparks Terror
The young man, originally from Gambia, had reportedly tried to board a flight earlier in the day.
But when staff noticed his ticket was for a flight that had already left days ago, he was turned away.
That’s when things took a dark turn.
After being stopped at a security checkpoint, a knife hidden in his backpack set off alarms.
Instead of backing down, the teen reportedly tried to force his way through airport security.
Things escalated quickly outside the terminal when a taxi driver—who says he was attacked by the same teen just moments earlier—ran into the building, shouting for help.
The alert triggered an immediate response from the National Police.
Shots Fired as Police Try to Contain the Threat
According to footage that surfaced later, the teenager charged at one of the five officers attempting to detain him.
In the confusion, one officer fell to the ground.
As the young man kept lunging at the others with the knife, police yelled at him to stop.
When he refused, they opened fire—shooting him five times.
One of the bullets struck his neck.
Despite the rapid arrival of emergency responders who tried to revive him at the scene, the teen was declared dead shortly afterward.
Tourists and airport staff looked on in horror as the dramatic incident unfolded in a space usually filled with check-ins and holiday excitement.
Investigation Underway into What Went Wrong
Authorities have since confirmed that the entire scene was captured by multiple airport security cameras.
A judge in the nearby town of Telde has launched an investigation and is now reviewing the footage to piece together exactly what happened and whether the police response was justified.
According to a police union spokesperson, the officers did what they had to do given the threat.
“The man could’ve easily killed someone,” said Ibon Dominguez, a representative of the Jupol police union.
“The response was proportional and necessary.”
Teen’s Behavior Described as ‘Out of His Mind’
Officials from the Canary Islands High Court of Justice released a statement describing the teen’s state of mind as clearly unstable.
“He was seen waving a large knife, attacking people, and putting everyone around him at serious risk,” the statement read.
“The area was packed with travelers—families, kids, tourists.
The danger was real.”
This deeply disturbing incident has left many shaken, especially those who witnessed it firsthand.
While the investigation continues, airport security across Spain is reportedly being reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.