Two American sailors were shot dead and one was critically
wounded at the US navy base in Bahrain, but there were no
indications of a terrorist attack, the navy said.
The shootings took place at about 5:00 AM (02:00 PM NZ), the navy
said in a statement, adding that initial reports indicated the
incident only involved US military personnel.
"Two sailors were pronounced dead at the scene and the third was
taken to local hospital for treatment. There are no indications of
terrorism or a base intrusion," the navy said.
The navy gave no explanation for the shootings, which took place in
the base's barracks, and said the names of the sailors were being
withheld.
Further details were not immediately available, and an
investigation was being conducted into the incident.
Bahrain is the home of the US navy's fifth fleet, which patrols
Gulf waters, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian
Ocean.
About 3,000 US personnel, not including the crews of visiting
ships, live and work on the heavily guarded base.
Staff generally keep a low profile in the tiny Gulf Arab kingdom of about 750,000 people.