Gunman who killed 13 at US army base still alive
US army psychiatrist is unconscious in hospital under military guard after being shot four times during Texas base rampage
The US army psychiatrist who shot dead 13 people and wounded 31 when he went on a rampage at Fort Hood military base in Texas is alive in a hospital under military guard.
The killer, identified as Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was initially reported to have been killed. But it emerged early this morning he survived despite being shot four times. He is on a ventilator and unconscious, according to military officials. "I would say his death is not imminent," a military spokesman told the Associated Press.
Two other soldiers were arrested but later released.
It is believed that the dead included troops making their final arrangements for deployment to Iraq.
An aide to Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas senator who was briefed by generals about the incident, said she had been told Hasan was upset about the deployment at the end of the year. Family and fellow officers said that he complained of harassment by other troops about his Middle Eastern ethnicity and Muslim faith.
Virginia-born Hasan opened fire with two handguns at the base's soldier readiness centre, where troops were having equipment checks, dental treatment and other last-minute preparations before being flown to Iraq.
Last night the suspected killer's cousin told Fox News in America that Hasan's duties had involved helping soldiers after they had returned from duty overseas.
A graduation ceremony was also due to take place yesterday at the base. All the dead and wounded were in the area around the centre. The base went into lockdown for several hours amid fears that other gunmen were involved.
Early reports suggested that Hasan had been killed during the incident. However, Lieutenant General Bob Cone told a late-night press conference that he had been wounded and was in a stable condition.
The general said that soldiers on the base did not carry weapons, only military police. It had been a policewoman who shot him, he said.
Cone praised soldiers who acted quickly to block doors to an auditorium where hundreds of troops had been taking part in a graduation ceremony.
Greg Schanepp, who was representing a local congressman at the graduation, told how a soldier who had been shot in the back came running towards him and alerted him to the shooting, telling him not to go in the direction of the killer.
The wounded were taken to hospitals in the central Texas region. Lisa Pfund said her daughter Amber Bahr, 19, was shot in the stomach but was in stable condition. "We know nothing, just that she was shot in the belly," she told Associated Press.
President Barack Obama, interrupting a speech in Washington, said the incident was a "horrific outburst of violence".
He added: "It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on American soil. We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident. We are going to stay on this."
Pentagon officials said it was unclear what triggered the shooting. "I don't know how anybody can speculate about motives at this time given how few facts we have," said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.
Although there was no immediate indication of motive and the Pentagon cautioned against speculation, there have been many violent incidents across the country involving troops suffering from stress on return from war zones.
The base, the biggest US active facility in the world, covering 339 sq miles and home to 52,000 troops at any one time was locked down, with all troops told to remain in barracks and civilians told to stay at home.
A civilian who lives close to the soldier readiness centre said: "We were told to close our doors. It has just been crazy. There were lots of firing."
Texas senator John Cornyn issued a statement advising against rash conclusions about the shootings at Fort Hood.
"It is imperative that we take the time to gather all the facts, as it would be irresponsible to be the source of rumours or inaccurate information regarding such a horrific event.
"Once we have ascertained all the facts, working with our military leaders and law enforcement officials on the ground, we can determine what exactly happened at Fort Hood today and how to prevent something like this from ever happening again."
United States
US military
Gun crime
Ewen MacAskill
guardian.co.uk Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
US army psychiatrist is unconscious in hospital under military guard after being shot four times during Texas base rampage
The US army psychiatrist who shot dead 13 people and wounded 31 when he went on a rampage at Fort Hood military base in Texas is alive in a hospital under military guard.
The killer, identified as Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was initially reported to have been killed. But it emerged early this morning he survived despite being shot four times. He is on a ventilator and unconscious, according to military officials. "I would say his death is not imminent," a military spokesman told the Associated Press.
Two other soldiers were arrested but later released.
It is believed that the dead included troops making their final arrangements for deployment to Iraq.
An aide to Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas senator who was briefed by generals about the incident, said she had been told Hasan was upset about the deployment at the end of the year. Family and fellow officers said that he complained of harassment by other troops about his Middle Eastern ethnicity and Muslim faith.
Virginia-born Hasan opened fire with two handguns at the base's soldier readiness centre, where troops were having equipment checks, dental treatment and other last-minute preparations before being flown to Iraq.
Last night the suspected killer's cousin told Fox News in America that Hasan's duties had involved helping soldiers after they had returned from duty overseas.
A graduation ceremony was also due to take place yesterday at the base. All the dead and wounded were in the area around the centre. The base went into lockdown for several hours amid fears that other gunmen were involved.
Early reports suggested that Hasan had been killed during the incident. However, Lieutenant General Bob Cone told a late-night press conference that he had been wounded and was in a stable condition.
The general said that soldiers on the base did not carry weapons, only military police. It had been a policewoman who shot him, he said.
Cone praised soldiers who acted quickly to block doors to an auditorium where hundreds of troops had been taking part in a graduation ceremony.
Greg Schanepp, who was representing a local congressman at the graduation, told how a soldier who had been shot in the back came running towards him and alerted him to the shooting, telling him not to go in the direction of the killer.
The wounded were taken to hospitals in the central Texas region. Lisa Pfund said her daughter Amber Bahr, 19, was shot in the stomach but was in stable condition. "We know nothing, just that she was shot in the belly," she told Associated Press.
President Barack Obama, interrupting a speech in Washington, said the incident was a "horrific outburst of violence".
He added: "It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on American soil. We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident. We are going to stay on this."
Pentagon officials said it was unclear what triggered the shooting. "I don't know how anybody can speculate about motives at this time given how few facts we have," said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.
Although there was no immediate indication of motive and the Pentagon cautioned against speculation, there have been many violent incidents across the country involving troops suffering from stress on return from war zones.
The base, the biggest US active facility in the world, covering 339 sq miles and home to 52,000 troops at any one time was locked down, with all troops told to remain in barracks and civilians told to stay at home.
A civilian who lives close to the soldier readiness centre said: "We were told to close our doors. It has just been crazy. There were lots of firing."
Texas senator John Cornyn issued a statement advising against rash conclusions about the shootings at Fort Hood.
"It is imperative that we take the time to gather all the facts, as it would be irresponsible to be the source of rumours or inaccurate information regarding such a horrific event.
"Once we have ascertained all the facts, working with our military leaders and law enforcement officials on the ground, we can determine what exactly happened at Fort Hood today and how to prevent something like this from ever happening again."
United States
US military
Gun crime
Ewen MacAskill
guardian.co.uk Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
