A man from Tajikistan shot and killed two security officers and injured a civilian at Moldova’s main international airport on Friday, after he was denied entry to the country, police and the interior ministry said.
The gunman, identified as a 43-year-old Tajik national, arrived at Chisinau International Airport from Istanbul and became agitated when he was asked to explain his reasons for visiting Moldova. He then grabbed a gun from a border police officer and opened fire, killing the officer and an airport security employee.
The attacker was wounded by another police officer and detained at the scene. He was taken to a hospital under police custody. The interior ministry said the shooting was being investigated as a possible “terrorist” act, but there was no evidence of any links to armed groups.
The incident caused panic and disruption at the airport, which briefly suspended all flights. Passengers were evacuated from the terminal and heard several gunshots. Some witnesses said they saw blood and broken glass on the floor.
Moldovan authorities expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and vowed to restore order and security at the airport. They also said they would cooperate with Turkish and Tajik officials to clarify the circumstances and motives of the shooting.
Moldova is a former Soviet republic with a population of 2.6 million people. It is seeking closer ties with the European Union, but faces political and economic challenges. The country is often used as a transit point by Ukrainians who cannot fly directly to Russia due to the ongoing conflict.