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A section of a major Italian airport was temporarily evacuated following an incident in which a man ignited a fire in the check-in area.
Social media footage depicted chaotic scenes within Terminal 1 of Milan’s Malpensa Airport, showing a fire at a check-in desk while a man reportedly damaged digital screens before being apprehended.
Authorities have confirmed an arrest, and the situation is now under control, according to the Lombardy Airports Association.
However, the association cautioned travelers about potential delays and cancellations at the busy transportation hub, a popular destination for British tourists.
According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, initial reports indicate no injuries have been sustained.
The newspaper reports that the incident occurred at approximately 11:00 local time (09:00 GMT), prompting emergency services to respond to reports of a “disoriented man” within the terminal.
BBC Verify has confirmed the authenticity of a two-minute video circulating on social media, which shows a fire at a check-in desk as passengers evacuate the vicinity.
The video also shows a man appearing to strike a wall with screens and an advertisement near the fire with what appears to be a hammer before another man approaches him, shouting “get down.” The second man then strikes the first on the head with a fire extinguisher.
Other individuals then surround the suspect, restraining him on the ground while calling for police. One person is seen throwing what appears to be a hammer away.
The motivation behind the incident remains under investigation.
Fabiola Gomes, who captured the video, told the BBC she was at the airport to pick up a relative before witnessing “fire everywhere” and a “boy with a hammer” striking the counter.
She reported feeling “very scared.”
Images from the airport show significant queues of passengers awaiting entry outside the terminal building, as smoke lingers inside.
Airport firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, but the spokesperson told Corriere della Sera that the area was evacuated “for safety reasons” because of the heavy smoke, adding that there had been no “significant disruption to air traffic”.
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