Surfers Paradise incident believed to be linked to Brisbane Airport arrest

The 50-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly pulled out a knife and placed a metal object on an airport table, claiming it was a bomb, after an argument with a woman.

He then chased the woman, a family member, while brandishing the knife, witnesses told Brisbane's The Sunday Mail.

Following a swift and extensive security response, the man was taken into custody by police who used non-lethal weapons to subdue him.

"We understand there has been considerable disruption to Brisbane International Airport tonight, we considered it important to evacuate the airport and make sure we could render everything safe", Fleming explained.

Earlier, unconfirmed reports claimed a man was threatening travelers with a knife and claiming to have a bomb.

Police have released an image of the fake bomb found during the Brisbane Airport lockdown.

A man was charged after Brisbane Airport's global terminal was shut down when he allegedly threatened a woman with a knife on Saturday night.

Commissioner Ian Stewart told reporters yesterday the accused man had gone to "extraordinary lengths" to create a perception of "risk, threat and fear".

"I have absolutely no doubt that it was an absolutely terrifying experience for those that saw that".

He will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Crawford said the man's statements led police to search a number of premises and vehicles for improvised explosive devices.

The airport was locked down for more than two hours and airport train services halted, though police said the incident was not terror-related.

An internal Queensland police "debrief" will occur in the wake of the incident as well as a debrief with the airport and other partner agencies to determine what, if anything, could be done better in future.