A Royal Navy officer has been killed after a rating turned a gun on him following a dispute between sailors on Britain’s most modern submarine.


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By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent 2:35PM BST 08 Apr 2011
The incident happened this afternoon during a changeover of armed guards at the pier where the £1 billion nuclear submarine Astute was berthed in Southampton.
It is understood that the submariner pulled out his 9mm pistol and shot the officer and fellow sailor who had come to change the guard. The officer was killed outright and the rating suffered severe wounds that are said to be critical but not life-threatening.
The sailor was disarmed and has been detained by Hampshire police. Sources suggest that he will be charged with murder.
“It happened earlier today when they had the weapons changeover for the sailors who are guarding Astute,” a source said.
“It appears this rating got into an argument then just went crazy and began shooting people. He has not served in Afghanistan so it doesn’t appear to be related to combat stress like PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).”