2 sailors killed in Bahrain base shooting

CAIRO (AP) — A U.S. Navy sailor shot and killed two female sailors early Monday in the barracks an American military base in Bahrain, officials said.
The alleged shooter, a man, was critically wounded in the shooting at the U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain base, said a Navy official who was not authorized to release the information to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The shootings took place at about 5 a.m. (0200 GMT), the navy said in a statement, adding that initial reports indicated the incident only involved U.S. 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.

In Washington, a State Department official said initial reports suggested the shooting was the result of a "love triangle." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still underway.

The wounded sailor apparently shot himself, the Navy said. The three seemed to be acquainted, "but the extent of their relationships and the details of the shootings are still under investigation," it said in a statement.

The Navy said the shootings, which took place around 5 a.m. and forced the base to close for about an hour, were not terror related and only involved U.S. military personnel.

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The Navy declined to release the names of those involved, saying their families had not been notified.

"The incident is under investigation, and it would not be prudent to discuss details at this time," said Navy spokesman Lt. John Gay.

Bahrain, a tiny island nation on the Persian Gulf, is a U.S. ally and home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which is responsible for an area of about 2.5 million square miles of water including the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.

About 3,600 personnel work on the U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain base, located just outside Bahrain's capital, Manama. The base supports U.S. naval ships in the region.