Fort Lauderdale attack

US aviation authorities were under pressure yesterday to enforce airport perimeter security after Friday’s shooting at Fort Lauderdale that left five people dead and several more wounded, some critically.

Observers in the UK and Europe were shocked that Esteban Santiago, the man accused of the atrocity, was able to take advantage of US regulations that say flying with firearms is legal in the US.

Guns have to be kept in a locked, hard-sided container as checked baggage only. Ammunition is also allowed only in checked luggage, but critics say the system is open to abuse.

They claim Santiago, who was said to have a history of mental illness, would not have made it to the Alaska airport where he began his journey if perimeter security was a reality in the US as it is in many parts of the world including Brussels and Israel.

Fort Lauderdale Airport, which Santiago was said to have chosen  specifically for the attack, reopened on Saturday but Terminal 2, where the shootings happened, remained closed as of last night (Sunday).

Officials say they still had 20,000 items of luggage to return to their owners in a "complex and time-consuming process" because many people in the airport rushed out on to the tarmac when the gunman opened fire.

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Simon Grigor, England/Harrow

Fully agree with you, David. Upgraded perimeter security would have made no difference whatsoever here. And there's no chance of most rigid gun control in the USA in the next four years!

David Ryder, Brussels

Improved airport perimeter security at US airports would not have stopped this awful attack. Better gun control in the US may have helped!