March 14, 1999
Web posted at: 1:27 p.m. EST (1827 GMT)

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNN) -- A gunman riding pillion on a motorcycle shot six people at a suburban football pitch in Dublin on Sunday.

Police said the gunfire wounded six people, including up to five of the players taking part in the amateur game at Clondalkin on the city's suburban west side.

The pillion passenger wore a mask and was carrying a shotgun, and appeared to fire at random as the motorcycle rode onto the pitch, said officials at the nearby Clondalkin Sports Center. The driver of the motorcycle also wore a mask.

All six shooting victims were taken to a hospital, but police said none faced life-threatening injuries.

Investigators said they knew of no motive for the shooting, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The method was similar to attacks related to the conflict over neighboring British-ruled Northern Ireland. Such violence rarely spills over into the Irish Republic.

But Dublin also has a thriving criminal underworld where the use of firearms is increasingly common.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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