Airport police shoot crash driver

A driver has been shot and wounded by police after crashing his car through a window at Milan airport then threatening officers with a knife.

Police at Malpensa airport ruled out any terrorist motive for the incident today but refused to give further details.

Airport worker Luigi Pagani was just yards away when the car's bonnet smashed through the departure terminal's window.

"I thought initially it was an accident. It wasn't like they smashed through the window and erupted armed into the terminal," he said.

A few moments passed, "then he came out of the vehicle the knife well-exposed. We didn't ask a lot of questions. We thought only of getting away."

Police confirmed that that the man was a Tunisian and had been shot by an officer. He was being treated at hospital.

The airport was briefly evacuated but had resumed normal operations by early afternoon.