Eight persons including three women have been injured and hospitalized following a shooting carried out by a security guard near Gate No. 06 of the Colombo port.

Police said that the shooting has been carried out by a private security officer at the Colombo port and that the injured persons are residents of Bloemendhal Street in Colombo.

According to police, a tense situation had ensued with the arrival of an angry mob at the location after the security officer had prevented two persons from stealing iron from the site.Subsequently one individual had allegedly attempted to grab the firearm from one of the security officers, prompting another security officer to open fire, police said.

Further investigations are underway.