"This was an act of intolerance by a drunken man," city police chief General Argemiro Serna told a news conference.

This was an act of intolerance by a drunken man

General Argemiro Serna

Police said eight people, including one woman, died on the spot, while three others died later in hospital.

Their ages ranged from 19 to 35.

A further four people were injured in the attack, which took place in a busy area of the capital early on Saturday morning.

General Serna said the killer, a young man in his 20s, left the bar angry after exchanging words with male friends of the woman.

He then returned with two friends, pulled out his gun and sprayed bullets around the club, police said.

Reward

General Serna showed a sketch of the assailant and offered a $7,500 reward for information that would lead to his arrest.

Police say the incident may also have been linked to gang violence, as the discotheque is situated in an area of the city where criminal gangs are known to operate.

The night club was cordoned off while police retrieved the bodies of the victims.

About 2,500 killings were reported in Bogota in 1999.

In 1987 a war veteran opened fire in an upmarket Italian restaurant in the city, killing 17 people.