A crazed teenager has been killed by police at a Spanish airport in front of horrified tourists after threatening holidaymakers with a knife and trying to rob a taxi driver.

The 18-year-old Gambian was shot five times after going berserk and lunging at one of the officers who confronted him.

Foreigners were seen running for cover as shots ran out during the Saturday afternoon incident at Gran Canaria airport.

The first footage of the drama emerged overnight, showing the knifeman running at one of the five National Police officers trying to intercept him who fell to the ground in the ensuing chaos as bystanders ran for safety.

He was shot as he tried to attack the officer's colleagues who appeared to be warning him to desist before they opened fire.