Stockholm  - A highly inebriated man shot and injured two female customers and a security guard at the Cosmopol casino in the Swedish capital Stockholm, police reported Thursday.

The man had been denied entry to the casino shortly before midnight because he looked drunk. He then pulled out a pistol, fired numerous shots in the direction of the entrance and fled.

The two women, aged 47 and 28, received injuries to the arms and legs, while the guard was shot in the stomach. All three were taken to hospital.

A major search had so far been unable to locate the man.

There were some 300 guests in the casino at the time of the attack on Christmas Eve. (dpa)