Shooting on British nuclear submarine kills officer

One Royal Navy officer was shot dead and another critically injured after a guard opened fire on British's flagship 1 billion pound nuclear submarine that carries Tomahawk cruise missiles, a media report said.

Daily Telegraph reported that seaman Ryan Donovan, who has been held, is understood to have opened fire with an assault rifle after an argument on HMS Astute that was berthed in Southampton.

Sources said 22-year-old Donovan had collected the rifle from the submarine's weapons store and was about to take up his sentry position when the altercation took place. He fired several rounds before he was nabbed, Hindustan Times reports.

The shooting occurred while the Mayor of Southhampton, the leader of the council and the chief executive were all aboard.

The ship had arrived at Southhampton, Wednesday, for a five day stay after six and a half weeks at sea.

Sources within the British government are making clear this was not a terrorist threat and there was no risk to the reactor on board the newly commissioned submarine, according to The Business Insider.