He walked into the airport's international terminal on Saturday evening holding a metal box with exposed wiring and claimed to have a bomb, The Courier-Mail reports citing sources.

He reportedly also had a knife.

Queensland Police told AAP on Saturday night a man had been arrested.

The incident sparked a major response from Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police, with an emergency declared and the terminal evacuated.

Services on the airport train line were also shut down.

The man was taken into custody a short time later. There were reports police fired shots before apprehending the man but the force has not confirmed this.

Police tweeted there have been no reports of injuries to any members of the public or police.

"All a bit dramatic at Brisbane airport earlier. Man took out a knife in departures just as we checked in," Market Gravity managing director Nick Sherrard posted on social media about 10.10pm.

Australian Associated Press