MOSCOW A teenage conscript sailor killed eight crewmates aboard a Russian submarine of the Northern Fleet on Friday, the Defence Ministry said. An emergency occured on a submarine of the Northern Fleet involving the death of personnel, it said in a statement. The ministry said Alexander Kuzminykh, aged 18 or 19 and drafted in St Petersburg 18 months ago, had seized an assault rifle from a sentry on duty above decks, killed him and then turned his fire on other crewmates, killing seven of them.

The ministry said the submarine was not in danger and that there were no nuclear weapons aboard. Kyzminikh had barricaded himself in a compartment of the submarine but had made no demands. The head of the navy, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, had flown to the scene. Spokesmen declined further comment. Interfax news agency, quoting sources at the Northern Fleet's headquarters at Severomorsk near Murmansk and at the admiralty in Moscow, said the vessel was an Akula (shark) class nuclear-powered attack submarine moored at Skalisty. (Reuter)