Shooting on HMS Astute, nuclear submarine

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One person killed, one in life threatening condition following shooting on Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute, Hampshire police say
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8 April 2011 Last updated at 13:47 GMT Share this pageEmailPrint
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One killed in HMS Astute nuclear submarine shooting


One person has been killed and another is in a life-threatening condition after a shooting on board the nuclear submarine HMS Astute.

A man was arrested after police were called at 1212 BST to Southampton docks where the vessel has been berthed since Wednesday as part of a five-day visit.

The BBC's Jonathan Beale understands that a crew member shot two of his crew mates before being overpowered.

A police spokeswoman said the incident is not linked to terrorism.

She said there is no public safety risk and the area is sealed off.

BBC News understands the arrested man was handed over to Hampshire police by Ministry of Defence police.

Brian Cedar, who lives in Hythe marina, said: "I saw at least six people carry a stretcher off the gangway into a waiting ambulance.

"There were a couple of forensic people who have now left.

"If you can have a shooting like this on a nuclear submarine it is worrying."

The area around the docks has been sealed off by officers from Hampshire police.

The 97m-long (318ft) HMS Astute, the UK's newest and largest nuclear submarine, is based at the Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde.


HMS Astute is currently berthed in Southampton as part of a five-day visit
It ran aground on a shingle bank between the Scottish mainland and the Isle of Skye in October last year and remained marooned for several hours.

HMS Astute was named and launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in June 2007 before being welcomed into the Royal Navy in August last year at a commissioning ceremony at Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde.

The submarine weighs 7,800 tonnes, equivalent to nearly 1,000 double-decker buses, and is almost 100 metres (328ft) long.

Its Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of delivering pinpoint strikes from 2,000km (1,240 miles) with conventional weapons.

The submarine's nuclear reactor means it does not need refuelling and it makes its own air and water, enabling it to circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.

Are you near HMS Astute in Southampton? Did you witness the incident? You can contact us using the form below.

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@niallpaterson

Apologies for lack of twitter updates re Astute. A truly shocking set of events. Am told an able seaman responsible. Two officers were hit.
1 minute ago via Twitter for iPhone

Man arrested over fatal shooting on nuclear submarine
One person is dead and another in critical condition after shooting on board HMS Astute in Southampton

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Steven Morris and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Friday 8 April 2011 15.19 BST
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Nuclear submarine HMS Astute, on which a shooting has killed one person and left another in critical condition in Southampton. Photograph: Chris Ison/PA
One person has been killed and another is in a critical condition after a shooting on board a nuclear submarine, police said.

One man has been arrested after the incident on HMS Astute, which is docked in Southampton, but Hampshire police are refusing to comment on reports that the three people involved are all service personnel.

They said the incident was not terrorist related and there was no risk to the public.

Several police vehicles were sent to the Eastern Docks and officers could be seen on the gangway of the £1bn submarine.

A police spokesman said: "Hampshire police were called by their Ministry of Defence colleagues at 12.12pm today and are currently liaising with them to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.

"It is believed two people have sustained injuries as a result of gun shots being discharged on the vessel. People should be reassured there is no risk to public safety.

"Hampshire Constabulary and the MoD are keen to stress this incident is not terrorist related. More information will be circulated as it becomes available," the police said.

The MoD referred all calls to Hampshire police.

HMS Astute is described by the Royal Navy as the first of a new class of vessel designed to be the largest and most powerful nuclear attack submarines ever built for it.

Built in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and based at Faslane, in Scotland, this is Astute's first trip south.

The five-day visit to Southampton was billed as the first chance for people outside north-west England and Scotland to see the boat.

Astute was not open to the public while in Southampton, but civic leaders, sea cadets, scouts, and school and college parties were being invited on to the 7,500-tonne vessel.

Astute's commanding officer, Commander Iain Breckenridge, said before arriving in Southampton: "My ship's company and I are very much looking forward to the visit and meeting the people of the city. And I'm sure scouts, school pupils and other visitors will be impressed with the capabilities of this formidable vessel."

Since commissioning last August, the boat has had what the navy calls an interesting time, including running aground off the Isle of Skye. It is now in the middle of a "demanding" trials programme.

The submarine's Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles are capable of delivering pinpoint strikes from 1,240 miles with conventional weapons. Its nuclear reactor means it does not need refuelling and it makes its own air and water, enabling it to circumnavigate the globe without needing to surface.

It was the first in a fleet of six which will replace the Royal Navy's Trafalgar class submarines.