LOS ANGELES (AFP, AP, REUTERS) - Parts of Los Angeles' international airport were evacuated on Friday after a shooting incident which injured at least two people, officials and media reports said.

"There is an incident underway at LAX," the airport said on its Twitter feed, while TV footage showed one person on a gurney, being loaded into an ambulance.

Another victim was seen being rushed away on a wheelchair. Triage stations were also seen.

The incident began at around 9.30 am (12.30am Saturday Singapore time) at Terminal 3 of the airport, according to the LAX Twitter feed.

Witness Brian Keech said he heard "about a dozen gunshots" from inside the security gate at Terminal 3, as police and paramedics surrounded the terminal.

The Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey confirmed that emergency crews have responded to a multi-patient incident.

It was unclear if a shooter or shooters were still at large, although California media reported that a gunman with a high-powered rifle was shot by law enforcement. The suspect was wounded and an airport worker for the Transportation Security Administration was also shot, the LA Times reported, adding that Terminals 2 and 3 were evacuated.

CBS2 television reported that a second suspect was taken into custody, about 45 minutes after the incident erupted.

Tory Belleci of the television show Mythbusters tweeted: "Heard gun shots then everyone starting running for the door. Not sure if anyone was hurt. #LAX."

Hundreds of travellers could be seen streaming away from at least one terminal building, while multiple ambulances and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.

Other passengers lined up on the tarmac near an aircraft, as emergency officials swarmed into the area, including armed police on top of a parking structure.