THIS is the moment a knifeman was Tasered by police as terrified passengers were evacuated from Gatwick Airport.

The man strode through a security area in the South Terminal holding two blades, sending staff fleeing for safety in the early hours of this morning.

7 A knifeman holds two blades as he strides through Gatwick Airport early this morning

7 The man is sent crashing to the ground after he was Tasered by armed cops at Gatwick

CCTV shows the bespectacled bearded man walking past a stunned male and female guard who step out of the way.

Another woman just ahead of him jumps back as the thick-set knifeman strides purposely past towards the departure gates.

Did YOU see the Gatwick knifeman? Call 02077824376 or email: alex.matthews@the-sun.co.uk

Seconds later he is seen walking back towards security holding both six-inch blades in front of him, as he challenges two police officers - one armed with a Taser the other with a machine gun.

The man then throws both knives to the floor but carries on moving aggressively towards both cops, and as he appears to reach inside his pocket he is brought crashing to the ground by a 50,000-volt Taser shot.

A black mystery object, possibly a radio, is then seen on the ground before being kicked away by one of the cops who are then joined by two colleagues.

The man is rolled onto his stomach and then cuffed - with the Taser cable still clearly attached to him - as two officers stand over him pointing their weapons at him.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill, and remains in police custody Sussex Police

Both knives are bagged up by a fourth officer wearing gloves who also picks up the object that fell from the man's pocket.

In a statement Sussex Police said they had responded to an incident in the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport around 2am on Monday 3 June.

They added: ''A man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon (knives) and making threats to kill, and remains in police custody.''

Police later confirmed they were not treating the incident as terror-related.

MOST READ IN NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order NEVER FORGET PM & celebs backs The Sun's campaign to save the Poppy Appeal from coronavirus Exclusive PIERS PRESSURE Couple wiped out village's internet for 18 MONTHS to watch Piers on £30 TV Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS STORE TOT SNATCH Family's horror as 'kidnap gang try to rip girl, 1, from pram' in TK Maxx Warning HORROR SMASH Great-grandad, 59, thrown 100ft in air as he is killed by hit-and-run driver

Passenger Adam Ross tweeted: ''Gatwick just been evacuated due to a 'life threatening' situation Police everywhere.''

He added: ''Amazing response from emergency services for sure.''

Another traveller Hayley Wilkins said:''Landed and whilst waiting for luggage got evacuated. man detained as he was walking through with knives.''

Gatwick Airport said the airport was temporarily evacuated but is now operating normally.

7 The man holds a large blade as he strides through Gatwick

7 The man calmly walks towards cops with his arms stretched out

7 The man hits the deck after being Tasered by the armed cops

7 He lies on his front while the cops secure the area

7 Eventually the man is cuffed as more cops arrive on the scene

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.