A gunman killed five people and injured eight inside Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport in the US state of Florida on Friday, local police said.

The shooting happened at the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, just before 13:00 local time, the airport confirmed.

Multiple news outlets have reported that the suspect has been identified as Esteban Santiago, a New Jersey man with a military ID. The gunman, believed to be an Iraq war veteran, was taken into custody after surrendering to police when running out of ammunition.

Officials said he was a passenger who had checked in an unloaded gun and ammunition with his luggage, but then loaded it in the bathroom after landing and collecting his bag, as per a BBC report. 

The eight injured have been taken to hospital, local authorities said. 

CNN cited Barbara Sharief, mayor of Broward County where the airport is located, as saying that there's no evidence that the suspect had accomplices and local authorities are looking into the motive of the attack. A federal law enforcement official later said that in November, Santiago had visited an FBI office in Anchorage and told staff that he heard voices encouraging him to carry out acts of violence, and claimed that the CIA were forcing him to watch ISIL videos. Officials encouraged him to seek mental health treatment.

Meanwhile, Rick Scott, governor of Florida, vowed that whoever is responsible for the attack would be held fully accountable. 

"The state of Florida, the citizens of Florida, law enforcement, this state will not tolerate evil acts. Whoever's responsible will be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” he said.