A younger half-brother of Bermuda's international footballer Shaun Goater is believed to be one of three people shot at the Swinging Doors nightclub in the early hours of yesterday.

Police are hunting a gunman who injured two men and a woman at the club in Court Street.

A 26-year-old woman and two men aged 21 and 30, all from Pembroke, needed surgery for gun wounds to their lower body after the shocking attack in the bar just after 2.30 a.m.

Last night it was being reported locally that the injured younger man, whose surname is Adams, is a half-brother of English League footballer Mr. Goater, while the older man is known by the nickname "Funk".

A family member of one of the victims said: "We are all shocked by what has happened. But all three of them are doing fine and one of them was up and walking about in the hospital." understands a gunman wearing a dark hood rammed the door and then started shooting from a small firearm without warning.

It's thought he picked out and shot at one of the victims and in the process hit two others in the club. The motive is unclear, but some locals believe it may be linked to an earlier dispute. The gunman was said to have calmly walked out after firing the weapon. Last night Police were interviewing drinkers at the session to piece together what happened.

It emerged that the woman had been shot in the foot. One of the men was hit in the knee while the other was hit in the arm and both knees although none of the injuries appear to be life threatening. Superintendent Sinclair White refused to say which man suffered the multiple wounds.

Police had no details about the range the guns were fired from and Supt. White would not speculate on why the gunman had aimed low or what the possible motive might be.

Asked if the gunman was a threat to the public Mr. White refused to comment further. Police were unable to say what calibre of weapon was used or how many shots were fired until Scenes of Crime officers had completed their task.

Supt White said: "This is a highly unusual event in Bermuda and this has the highest attention within the service."

Chief Inspector Andrew Boyce, who led the probe into the murder of the Cooper twins, is heading the investigation involving experienced officers from the Serious Crime Unit, the Criminal Investigation Unit, the Forensic Support Unit (FSU) and other units.

Last night Acting Premier Randy Horton lamented what he said was a rare outbreak of violence but said the Police response had been emphatic with an armed response unit rushing to the scene.

He said he shared the public's justifiable outrage over the shooting.

Mr. Horton said Police numbers in Court Street had been boosted recently and the long-delayed CCTV cameras would be running by the summer.

Originally the cameras were to be placed on buildings but it emerged they would not be secure enough so poles had been ordered and would start going up by the end of the week.

Mr. Horton, who is Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister, said legislation requiring metal detectors might be on the cards to tighten up club security.

Steve Simons, managing director of Spinning Wheel which is just a few blocks down from Swinging Doors, said his establishment already has metal detectors and he is planning to put in his own CCTV to monitor the door. The images will be sent directly to the Police station.

He said he was shocked by yesterday's shooting ? a feeling shared by many who spoke to on an eerily quiet Court Street at midday yesterday.

Bypasser Hafid James said: "I think it's gang and drug related, something like that. I don't think it's just random.

"One got shot in the leg, one got shot in the arm. That's accurate shooting.

"When they find out who did it there will be retaliation."

Spinning Wheel manager Charles Burgess also thought it might be gang related.

"I think one kid got happy and got excited. All these gangs ? it's a bad situation. It's getting like LA."

People with information are urged to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299 4315 or call the confidential Crimestoppers number 1 800 623 847.