Knife attack at Gran Canaria airport, Spanish police kill 18-year-old in front of tourists

Panic-inducing scenes were recorded at Gran Canaria airport on Saturday when an 18-year-old Gambian man was shot dead by Spanish police after allegedly attacking officers with a knife, causing terror among tourists who ran for their lives.

The incident began when the young man, who attempted to board a plane flying to his homeland on a ticket for a different date, tried to force his way through security.

When the knife in his bag set off the metal detector, he tried to escape, while a taxi driver, who had allegedly been attacked by him earlier, alerted the police, screaming for help.

The 18-year-old was shot five times, with one of the bullets hitting his neck, leading to his immediate death at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services who rushed to the airport.

The police tried to immobilize him, while the video from the security cameras shows the moment when the perpetrator is lying on the street.

The incident is being investigated by a court in the city of Telde, with authorities collecting video from airport cameras in an attempt to determine whether there was an excess in the use of deadly force.

Ibon Dominguez, spokesman for the police union Jupol, described the officers' reaction as "in accordance with the rules", noting that the perpetrator "could have easily killed one of the officers" .

Authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the deceased nor have they confirmed whether the young man had mental health problems.

Gran Canaria Airport, one of the busiest transport hubs in Spain with almost 14 million passengers a year, is known for its low crime rate, making the incident particularly rare and disturbing. (A2 Televizion)