A Royal Navy officer was killed Friday and another was seriously injured after a shooting aboard a British nuclear-powered submarine docked in port, police said. A third member of the navy was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident in the southern English port of Southampton, officials said, stressing that the shooting was not "terrorist-related".
The shooting took place aboard HMS Astute, the British navy's newest and most advanced submarine, which was in Southampton on a five-day visit after reportedly spending seven weeks at sea. "On board the submarine a firearm had been discharged which resulted in two crew members being injured. One of these injuries proved fatal," Chief Superintendent David Thomas of Hampshire Police told reporters.
"The other crew member was taken to hospital in Southampton with significant injuries. His condition is now described as stable." He added: "A man, also a member of the Royal Navy, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder." The spokesman said police would be questioning everyone who was on board at the time, about 30 people, as witnesses. "Submarine security was not breached as part of the incident and it is not a terrorist-related incident. The vessel, which has been assessed by senior naval personnel, is safe," he added.
Armed police, fire-fighters, paramedics and the local air ambulance were quickly deployed to the docks, and two police launches patrolled near the submarine, witnesses said. The mayor of Southampton and the leader and chief executive of the city council were visiting the submarine at the time, around noon (1100 GMT), but were not hurt. It is thought the shooting was carried out with an SA80 service rifle, and took place during a weapons changeover between sentry duty shifts.
After the shooting, other navy personnel apparently grabbed the gunman and handed him over to MoD police taking part in the civic visit. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the details given by the police, and Defence Secretary Liam Fox offered his condolences to the victims' families.