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Officer Killed on HMS Astute

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  • Officer Killed on HMS Astute

    Shooting reported in Eastern Docks area of Southampton, near where the nuclear submarine HMS Astute is berthed - source BBC

    "8 April 2011 Last updated at 13:20

    'Shooting' near submarine HMS Astute in Southampton

    Two people have been hurt in a shooting at Southampton docks near to where the nuclear submarine HMS Astute is currently berthed, the BBC understands.

    The nuclear-powered submarine has been docked in Southampton since Wednesday as part of a five-day visit.

    The area around the docks have been sealed off by officers from Hampshire Police.

    The Royal Navy or police are yet to officially comment on the incident."
    Last edited by Orion; 8 April 2011, 14:27.

  • #2
    The incident happened on board.

    ONE PERSON has died and another is in hospital, after a shooting on board a nuclear submarine docked in Southampton.

    The Royal Navy's newest submarine, HMS Astute, is in the middle of a five day visit to the city.

    One man has been arrested by Hampshire Constabulary following the incident.

    Police say the incident is not terrorist related and that there is no risk to public safety.

    Four police cars, an unmarked police car and an ambulance have all been seen going into the port at dock gate four.

    The submarine is visiting the city as part of a drive to associate Royal Navy vessels with towns and cities across the UK.

    The vessel arrived on Wednesday, following 46 days at sea for the 98-strong crew, for an informal five day visit.

    The submarine was at 38/9 berth, with a 50 metre exclusion zone being patrolled by MoD police officers at all times.
    Last edited by pmtts; 8 April 2011, 14:59.

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    • #3
      Officer Killed on HMS Astute

      Originally posted by www.thetelegraph.co.uk

      HMS Astute shooting: nuclear sub guard kills father of four in rifle rampage

      A rating guarding Britain’s flagship nuclear submarine who shot dead a Royal Navy officer and left another critically injured was wrestled to the ground by civic dignitaries.

      By Thomas Harding,, Gordon Rayner, Victoria Ward and Andrew Hough 7:30AM BST 09 Apr 2011

      Able seaman Ryan Donovan, who was wearing body armour and camouflage gear, fired several rounds before he was overpowered by Royston Smith, the leader of Southampton city council.

      Cllr Smith, 46, said he reacted after he felt a bullet whistle past his head.

      Sources said the rating, a London-born warfare specialist trained in tracking vessels, had just collected the rifle from the submarine’s weapons store as he came on guard duty, and was due to take up his sentry position on the gangplank when the row erupted.

      The 22 year-old sailor who was held at the scene on suspicion of murder is understood to have opened fire with an SA80 assault rifle at 12.12pm after a row broke out in the control room of HMS Astute, which was berthed in the city.

      On Friday night the dead officer, in his 30s, was named by sources as Lt-Cdr Ian Molyneux, the vessel’s weapons engineering officer.

      The married father of three boys and a girl had been in the Navy for more than two decades and was due to transfer to the Navy's second Astute class submarine, HMS Ambush.

      According to a profile on a social networking site, Lt-Cdr Molyneux, worked in Scotland during the week and lived in Wigan, Lancs with his wife Gillian, a sport studies lecturer at Wigan & Leigh College.

      "I thought I would have travelled the world but I have only visited a few places however I have seen it all underwater," he wrote. Lieutenant Commander Chris Hodge was in a critical condition on Friday night.

      Several VIP guests, including Cllr Smith, were on board at the time, and a party of schoolchildren was standing on the dockside waiting to board the vessel when the shooting happened.

      Cllr Smith, a former RAF engineer, told last night how he wrestled the gunman, who was less than five yards away, to the ground and disarmed him. He denied he was a "hero".

      "The gunman ... appeared with all his gear on which didn't alarm me in itself," he said.

      "He then stepped back a couple of steps and disappeared from view again. That was when he fired the first couple of shots which I heard ring out.

      "He came back into the control room and he fired the third and fourth shots. They were reasonably close and I heard a hiss which meant one had flown just passed me."

      Mr Smith, who was a non-commissioned officer in the RAF, added: "There was a lot of blood, it really wasn't nice – I thought he was going to kill all of us."

      "I then took the decision that if that bullet hadn't hit me, one was about to and, if not me, anyone and everyone else.

      "I charged at him, pushed him against the wall and, at the same time got hold of his weapon. At that point I think he fired shot number five. We had a tussle and I think I was shouting quite a lot. My instinct was to make myself scary.

      "I spun him 180 degrees and charged him against the other wall which I think we hit quite hard. I think it was around this time that shot number six went off.

      Mr Smith, who suffered bruises to his legs and back and a cut to his head, but did not require medical treatment, said he managed to pull the rifle away and throw it out of the gunman's reach.

      As other dignitaries stood around him in shock, he yelled for the city Alistair Neill, council chief executive, to help.

      He added: "I shouted for Alistair to get on top of the gunman because he was thrashing around – he wasn't going to take it lying down.

      "I don't feel like a hero, I wish it hadn't happened."

      One source told The Daily Telegraph: “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 post-traumatic stress disorder.”

      The Ministry of Defence insisted that the incident had not caused a wider threat to public safety.

      Astute, the most sophisticated hunter-killer vessel in the world, is guarded by its own crew when it is in port. They are usually issued with sidearms at the head of the gangplank as they come on duty.

      John Denham, the MP for Southampton Itchen and a former cabinet minister, said: ''In due course I will be asking ministers to ensure this incident is fully explained with complete openness about any potential risk to the public.”

      Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, said his “thoughts and sympathies” were with the families of the victims.


      Link to original
      Surprised that I couldn't find something about this on bbc.co.uk. Saw it on Sky News this morning.

      [edit; just saw the other thread, merge please?]
      Last edited by ODIN; 9 April 2011, 09:46.
      What are you cackling at, fatty? Too much pie, that's your problem.

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      • #4
        Wasn't it Astute that ran aground a while back in Scotland, and also had a fire aboard at one time? This is a new boat, seems like she's jinxed though.

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        • #5
          I took this earlier today. The Ministry of Defence Police are now carrying out sentry duties.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by easyrider View Post
            Wasn't it Astute that ran aground a while back in Scotland, and also had a fire aboard at one time? This is a new boat, seems like she's jinxed though.
            Lots of new ships have teething problems, including accidents and fires.
            Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Victor View Post
              Lots of new ships have teething problems, including accidents and fires.
              A crew member doing a lebanese unload on his officers and civic guests in not no how no way a teething problem!
              But there's no danger
              It's a professional career
              Though it could be arranged
              With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
              If you're out of luck you're out of work
              We could send you to johannesburg.

              (Elvis Costello, Olivers Army)

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by turbocalves View Post
                A crew member doing a lebanese unload on his officers and civic guests in not no how no way a teething problem!
                There is no evidence or suggestion he targeted the civic guests. They just happened to be in the immediate area at the time.

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                • #9
                  He was tackled by an exsoldier, who gave him a good clout and disarmed him, even as the gunman managed to let off two more rounds. Fair play to the guy!
                  regards
                  GttC

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by pmtts View Post
                    There is no evidence or suggestion he targeted the civic guests. They just happened to be in the immediate area at the time.
                    Its still not a teething problem....
                    But there's no danger
                    It's a professional career
                    Though it could be arranged
                    With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
                    If you're out of luck you're out of work
                    We could send you to johannesburg.

                    (Elvis Costello, Olivers Army)

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by turbocalves View Post
                      Its still not a teething problem....
                      I suggest you read my post again. You claimed he was doing a Lebanese unload on officers and civic guests. I stated there was no evidence to suggest he targeted the civic guests.

                      To back this up, he has been charged the murder of Lieutenant Commander Ian Thomas Molyneux, and the attempted murder of Petty Officer Christopher Brown,

                      He was further charged with the attempted murder of Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, and the attempted murder of Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hodge,

                      I never once attributed it to teething problems!
                      Last edited by pmtts; 11 April 2011, 00:22.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by pmtts View Post
                        I never once attributed it to teething problems!
                        I never said you did.

                        But my opening quote (albeit somewhat dramatic) was in response to a quote about "teething" problems.

                        As for civic guests that lad that disarmed him was a town councillor, so there is a possiblity that he would have fired on them if he got the chance ( but I am speculating this)
                        But there's no danger
                        It's a professional career
                        Though it could be arranged
                        With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
                        If you're out of luck you're out of work
                        We could send you to johannesburg.

                        (Elvis Costello, Olivers Army)

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Nuclear submarine sailor appears in court over shooting

                          Lt Cdr Molyneux's widow Gillian said he was "utterly devoted to his family"


                          A sailor charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder after a shooting on board a nuclear submarine has appeared in court.

                          Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux, 36, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, was shot dead on HMS Astute while it was docked in Southampton on 8 April.

                          A second man, Lt Cdr Christopher Hodge, was also shot and remains in hospital.

                          Able Seaman Ryan Samuel Donovan, 22, appeared at the city's magistrates court and was remanded in custody.

                          The Royal Navy serviceman, has also been charged with the attempted murders of Petty Officer Christopher Brown, 36, Chief Petty Officer David McCoy, 37, and Lt Cdr Hodge, 45.

                          He is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday.

                          The charges follow an incident last Friday in which shots were fired from an SA80 rifle as local dignitaries, including the city council's mayor, chief executive and leader, were being given a tour of HMS Astute.

                          'Utterly devoted'

                          Nick Hawkins, prosecuting, said that the case could have been handled internally by the armed forces but it had been agreed that the case would be held in the civilian courts.

                          Mr Hawkins, the chief prosecutor for Hampshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Because the defendant is a serviceman he also falls under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces.

                          "The Armed Forces do have jurisdiction but during the course of the weekend I had discussions with the director of service prosecutions and we are in agreement this case is to be properly tried in the civilian courts."

                          Lt Cdr Molyneux's widow, Gillian, described the father of four as "utterly devoted to his family".

                          HMS Astute has been cleared to leave Southampton this afternoon to return to its base at Faslane, Scotland.

                          The submarine has been berthed at the Eastern Docks since Wednesday on a five-day official visit.

                          The 97m (318ft)-long craft is the UK's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine and is based at the Faslane Naval Base on the River Clyde.

                          It was named and launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in June 2007 before being welcomed into the Royal Navy in August last year.
                          A sailor charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder after a shooting on board nuclear submarine HMS Astute appears in court.
                          Last edited by Goldie fish; 11 April 2011, 13:53.


                          Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            The trial will be heard at Winchester. I wonder what happens now regarding crew who were witnesses.

                            Do they stay ashore until their testimony has been heard in Court. considering their role, Astute could be anywhere around the World.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Same as for any other civilian court case, witnesses will be summonsed to attend, until the CPS are finished with them.


                              Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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