Shocking video shows woman armed with a knife railing against police at Atlanta Airport before stabbing three – including a 71-year-old retired officer who just returned to active duty
- An armed woman stood meters away from passengers waiting in line after stabbing her first victim outside
- Frightened travelers gasped: “She has a knife” as police tried to calm the woman
- The brave veteran police officer suffered a severed artery after being stabbed in the thigh
Hundreds of passengers waiting in line were ordered to take cover at Atlanta Airport when an armed woman stabbed three people during a rampage through the south terminal.
Video filmed by a passenger shows police and airport staff trying to talk to the woman as she ranted and wildly waved her knife just before 5pm on Wednesday.
She had already stabbed a man on the airport’s western overpass before moving to the security area where she was challenged by police.
“During the encounter, the female suspect stabbed an adult female and then an APD lieutenant as he attempted to take her into custody,” Atlanta police said in a statement.
Some passengers watched in amazement from behind the relative safety of a glass barrier as the scene unfolded next to them.
But others waiting at the security checkpoint were sent to the floor in case she had a gun or bomb in her backpack.
Police and airport staff approach the woman who has already stabbed a man outside
Passengers queuing for security are instructed to take cover in case the woman is more heavily armed
“They’re very dynamic people,” an airport security officer warned them, “so we’re going to get you out of here as quickly as possible.
“I don’t believe you are in immediate danger.”
Sarah Nagem, editor at the Border Belt Independent in North Carolina, stood in line and said staff described it as a “domestic incident.”
The police officer, said to be a 71-year-old retiree who had returned to active duty, suffered a severed artery after being stabbed in the thigh.
A female ticket clerk was also stabbed before the woman was overpowered and arrested by a second police officer, leaving a trail of blood in the booking hall.
“When we encountered her, a stabbing had already occurred,” said Atlanta Police Sergeant John Chafee.
“A little moment happened there.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s a connection between her and them, but we’ll look into that.”
The kneeling passengers cheered when they were told she had been arrested and allowed to get back up from the floor.
Police said they did not know the motive for the attack but expected to find out by the time they filed charges.
All three victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where they were conscious and in comfortable condition last night.
Atlanta Airport placed an all-clear status about 40 minutes after the first stabbing and no flights are thought to have been delayed.
“The crime scene areas are closed off, but there are several different entrances that can be used at the airport,” Sergeant Chafee said.
At one point she appeared to threaten passengers watching from just a few feet away behind a glass screen
Police eventually overpowered the woman after she stabbed three people, including an officer
Not all passengers were so optimistic.
“It’s not even safe at the Atlanta airport,” former Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson tweeted.
‘Keep your head on a Swivel. Sad situation that happened before. I hope people are doing well.
‘I was on the other side. My son was on the floor with everyone else. They need to do something about these lines.”
