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The gunman was identified as 39-year old Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an American national of Jordanian descent, who was about to be deployed to Iraq, officials at the Fort Hood military base in St Antonio in central Texas, said.
Hasan opened fire with two handguns at a military processing centre, where soldiers go for a last-minute medical check up before being sent on deployment.
The soldiers were making their final preparations for deployment to Iraq, Fort Hood's base commander Lt Gen Bob Cone told reporters late last evening.
The attacker was shot several times in exchange of fire and was captured. "His death is not imminent," said Cone.
Military officials said that the soldier attacked other troops at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center and the adjacent Howze Theater on the sprawling Central Texas post.
Ten of those killed were soldiers, Cone said.
Two other soldiers were taken into custody but later released after being interviewed.
Cone did not speculate about a motive, but the Army released a statement saying it did not believe the shootings were an act of political terrorism.
The incident that sent shock waves across the country was termed by Obama as "a horrific outburst of violence".
"It is difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas... It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil," Obama said in Washington.
Hasan is a psychiatrist who got his Virginia psychiatry license in 2005. He was a psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for six years before being transferred to Fort Hood in July, officials said.
According to the Federal law enforcement officials, Hasan had come to their attention at least six months ago because of Internet postings that discussed suicide bombings and other threats.
The officials, who had access to Hasan's military record, said he received a poor performance evaluation while at Walter Reed. They spoke on condition of anonymity because military records are confidential.
The Virginia-born soldier was single and had no children.
Hasan's cousin Nader Hasan said she believed it was his upcoming deployment combined with the wartime horror stories he heard from his patients that set him off, ABC said.
Hasan had recently hired an attorney to help him get out of the military.
According to Nader, Hasan was also harassed after 9/11 because of his ethnicity, and was called a "camel jockey".
Obama, who was originally scheduled to spend more time at the Tribal Nations Conference, immediately rushed to his Oval office to take stock of the situation.
"We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident," he said and left the stage.
Cone said local police responded quickly and took control of the situation. "It's a terrible tragedy. It's stunning," he said.
Lt Col Chris Carver, Army spokesman at the Pentagon, said he didn't know what the motive was for the shooting.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, at news conference in Denton, said the state had "the right people on the scene".
He ordered all flags in Texas be lowered to half-staff until Sunday, asked "all Texans to pray for their (victims) families".
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas said time was needed to gather all the facts about the incident.
"It would be irresponsible to be the source of rumours or inaccurate information regarding such a horrific event," he said in a statement.
Fort Hood in central Texas, is one of the largest military installations in the world with 40,000 troops. Its primary mission is to maintain a state of readiness for US combat missions.
At least 25,000 people are at Fort Hood on any given day, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon said.
The Senate and the House of Representatives held a moment of silence for the victims of the Fort Hood massacre.
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USA and India must stop recruiting MUSLIMS in Army.one muslim man in army is like One Suicide bomb within our team.One day they will turn as a BOMB like this Major Hasan.India should learn lesson from other incidents.We can not trust MUSLIMS at any point of time.SO NO MORE MUSLIMS IN ARMY...simple rule...
If muslims think they are all brothers and mistrust every body else, how can they be trusted(or should they be trusted) by others anywhere else, let alone the army. People of the world must understand that Islam justify the killing of non-believers/infidels.
I scan the posts and can't help but see a pattern: the posters just can't keep their own biases and self-interests out of their opinions. i can't help but feel sadness for this lot who descended from the Greats who gave us the ancient philosophies.
Sir, 1. Truly a tragic incident where a misguided/or indoctrinated psyhicatrist resorting to massacre the hapless and the innocents. Unfortunately, this gentleman considers his religion is everything and ready to sacrifice his life for the perceived notion of religious persecution.If this is the mindset of a highly qualfied professional doctor that's too, a psychiatrist what would be the feelings of an unlettered person. Killing in the name of God whom they consider as the supreme one!
Any time when a person forgets that he is first a citizen of a nation and his religion is very personal, this kind of incidents will happen over and over.This man was educated on US citizen tax money and if he felt so righteous he should have resigned. One cannot understand that how religion played more important part. It is not true that he was taunted or given any hard times but being a Muslim he must have been asked in his mosque as he went in uniform for prayer that how could he fight for the infidel. He was there to heal others and yet he could notheal himself. as long as we continue3 to put our religion ahead of everything else this kind of incidents will happen.It is a challenge to humanity to either accept the nation you belong to be loyal or be first a Muslim and than American. we are seeing the same situation in India with Deobundi passing Fatwa on Vande Matram and we all must dig deep into our thinking on this matter. Vande Mateem is not national anthem but homage to mother
If a country so rich, free and fair as America cannot win the loyalty of the true believers of the "religion of peace", what hope India could have winning over the hearts of multitude of millions of infidel-haters, multiplying exponentially as anywhere else. It is about time to quarantine the believers in the caves of Afganistan and the deserts of middle east, to the save the civilized humanity form the mental disease called Islam. The source of the islamic virus, Koran must also be banned to stop the spread of the virus. The merciful guy in the sky who arranges for 72 virgins for a believer who blow-up infidels, should be renamed as 'dalal'.
So what is new?
I dont understand why are we so worried about a few American soldiers. I have not seen such solidarity shown for our own men. Kindly stop this drama and stop behaving as more loyal than the king. Jai Hind.
Extreme in any religion brings fanaticsm and those who follow them are narrowed in their perceptions, arrogant, intolerant, racist of course, manipulators, deceivers, murderers and end up being a "Cults". We have varieties of them in India, and surprisingly those who have sent them here, have banned them in their own countries. When you see this world, it is these "Cults" who are destroying this world. Lets be Ethical and not Religious and save this world." A man's Ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education and social ties;no religious basis is necessary". (Albert Einstein)
This Major's family was given shelter and livelihood in USA and this man was born, brought up and educated by the American tax payers. He was educated as a doctor by the US Army. It is his responsibility to serve that nation, instead he butchered innocent collegues. In all most all military establishments, especially in training centres criticism, mockery, etc. happens. He should not have taken it personally. A soldier should be able to take all these in a Military spirit. What was he doing till he became a Major. This so called Major hassan was waiting for his free education and a carreer. His sister claimed that he was disheartened by the scene of war horrors in Afghanistan and Iraq. Are the soldiers of American origin not participating in Iraq and Afghan war? Is this Major someone special, so that he will not go to the war front? I doubt some foul play in this game. Hope Americans will go to the extreme end to find out the truth or else they will perish.
Every Jewish man in the world is loyal to Israel. Most of the Hindus I met in Australia and America are still loyal to Matrabhumi. Nobody question them. We have many Hindus are killed in Australia. We should not cry for them. It is a matter of Australia only. Why do we poke into the internal affairs of Australia then. The guy who shot soldeirs in Texas was continuously being abused by the fellow racists soldeirs. Many Christian solderirs have killed their fellow American soldeirs in the past. Many Hindu Soldeirs in Kashmir shot dead their many colleagues many times. Nobody blamed them. Why are we picking on Muslims then. Nobody talks of those hundreds of Muslim soldeirs deployed in Iraq from America were buried in American Arlington National Cemetry. What about them? Thousands of Americans are questioning the Iraq and Afghan war? And that is the reason Bush was kicked out of the office. Were they all traitors?
Your arguments are weak.Jewish relationship to Israel and hindu's relationship to India is differnet from the realtionship this gunman had with the US army.Similarly Bush's loosing elections or americans opposing this policy is alos diffent.There is something seriouly wrong with muslims.The condemnation for acts of terrorism never comes without pre-conditions from fellow Muslims.I d'ont trust anyone of them.There are lot of examples but it is so obvious now that there is no point debating.
For some people religion comes before country,and those people belong to only one religion.It is time to segregate them
Only consolation is that he can be sure of getting quick justice in Texas. Mother Earth would heave a sigh of relief soon when he is gone. No tears shed. Pity his mates who trusted this brain washed camel jockey. God bless their souls. Vandemataram!
I live in Texas, honestly emotions are running very high all over Texas and US. This Major had brought great damage to his community, that is for sure.Let us all hope there is no backslash because of this guy....Texans are hardcoded patriotic and really tough guys and i am sure it will very difficult for innocent Muslim's living in Texas and all over US....Let us pray for Peace
I am in TOTAL AGREEMENT with Tanmay & Karan! Can you trust ALL Muslims?! It seems they are so BRAINWASHED by their religion that followers of other religions are termed "INFIDELS" & many amongst these muslims are prepared to kill these so-called "Infidels".
Bollywood keeps making movies (New York, Kurbaan...)which show only one side of Muslim terrorism (the resulting discrimination). But they never show Muslims running planes into buildings or killing civilians in hotels chanting Allah's name.
Most Bollywood stars are from this Lunatic faith and follow terror book called QURAN .India and World must BAN muslims and QURAN inorder to prevail PEACE on earth.
With the story of Muslims not going to sing the national song and now this Muslim guy killing his own colleauges, one has to wonder where is Muslims's allegiance. It seems Islam comes first.
If you want to know WHY ? Look at his name. Proud to be a non-muslim !!
Our thoughts goes to the families who lost their loved ones.The killing of soldiers is a henious act committed by a terrorist type.There is hardly any country left which is not influenced by terrorism.The entire world must come together and fight this menance all around the globe so that the upcoming generations could live peacefully.
And I suppose his religion had absolutely nothing to do with it. It is funny how the mainstream media is already trying to hide the fact that the shooter was a 'devout'/fanatical Muslim who argued against killing American troops, soldiers and others. As a matter of fact, he was even reprimanded before for his pro-Arab views. But, he was let go because he was a 'good Muslim' and there were human rights groups frothing. Wonder what the Human Rights Groups, like CAIR and Amnesty International have to say about this.
THESE FELLOWS SHOULD AS A RULE NEVER BE EMPLOYED IN SENSITIVE POSITIONS BY MAJORITY KAFIR SOCIETIES. NOW SEE WHAr HAPPENS!
The name of the killer says it all
It is sad indeed. The person who helps soldiers recover from the trauma goes out to kill soldiers. No human likes to kill other (atleast in the retrospect). Imagine the burden on the psychiatrist, who helps the soldier ease the pain. I think somehow the psychiatrist helped soldiers ease the pain by killing them (kind of a mercy killing). The news dont report some soldiers killing themselves after they come back from occupation (its not war) or not choosing to fight. It could be just a chance that psychiatrist has a name of a muslim.
Oh stop making excuses for a Murderer ..shameless scum if he was so disturbed why didnt he kill himself...why murder 12 of his fellow soilders.Its not rocket science and you know it - the man is a muzzie and he behaved like one.
Yes, Obama should not be sheding tears only when one american fall to the bullets. It though not obvious, to shed tear for all those get killed in the world. but then there are hundreds and thousand of innocent civlions, including women and children who lost their beloved in the act of "war on Terror" campaign. It is also not possible to get hold of the real terrorist, as these cowardies get themself disguised as innocent civilion whether in waziristan of swat. But then killing of innocents should be condomned through out the world, not only for the americans. Especially, whatever is happening in Afgnistan and Pakistan today is the handi worlk of the US alone. But this gentleman's act, without his knowledge, is compelling the entire world population to be more careful about the vigilant of his particular community. People would love to hate this particular community for some single act like this of the radical/fundamental single man!
Mr. Umesh,Obama deep from his heart is no better than this Major Hasan.His corocodile tears is a feint to cover his real intentions.There is nothing that can change a muslim to believe or accept the values of othr religions or philosophic systems.I know few cases where muslims spent whole life praying,worshipping and living like Hindus but at the time of death they called respectable people and the last wish was no cremation but funeral with muslim burial services/ceremony.The kind of deep-rooted faith they have is appericiable which may not be good for us and other religions.They are brought up with and in that kind of atmosphere they are bound to act against others.USAmerican and rest of the world has to recognize this fact.I find it ridiculous when Americans call Saudis etc as friends.Friendship is fine and good as far as it has limits to the exchange of interests but trust is no ignorance but absolutely foolishness.Your views about USA are precise and correct.
Burial culture probably was due to there being no wood in the deserts! There is not enough grass even for the camels. What to speak of the burials for the camel jockeys! Having said that I seem to agree that for some in this world it appears that religion is more important than nationality or his friends and colleagues. Vandemataram.
When religion becomes bigger than state this is waht happen. We have some minorities in India who does not want sing Vande Mataram. Very dangerous indeed
My prayers for the fallen ones , However we must understand that even the poor people in North and South Waziristah who are being killed by the indiscrimate firing by US drons in the name of Osama hunt also have family and they too feel the pain like this .
Pain has borders. It is a greater pain to be killed by your own mate whom you trusted with your life. It is a greater pain to be killed by your own countryman. It is a greater pain to be killed by a soldier who was expected to die for you. Vandemataram!
if 911 didn't happen then none of whats happening in Afghanistan and Iraq would have happened.
If CIA had not interfered in the region the 911 would not have happened.
Mr. adaamin this and much more happened even before 9/11.The first power show was during January 91(exactly 17th Jan)when aerial bombardment on Iraq was done)During Clinton's Presidency also missiles were fired on socalled al-qaeda hide-outs.Direct intervention,by producing Talibans,against Russia had been left uncontrolled just after Russian withdrawl from Afghanistan and the mission wasn't either successful or brought in some peace/stability in theat region.The USA wanted it that way so that they could have some excuse/pretext to continue their presence in that region aming at strategic motives/interests.Infact its just opposite to what you say.If USA had not produced,nurtured,trained and weaponized these Talibans and other terrorists groups,purposefully and ofcourse foolishly,there would have been no 9/11 and many other loathsome terroists attacks.Without USAmerican meddling and passions to rule/dictate the world there would have been very rare such accidents.The world would've been much peaceful.Not to forget after fall of soviet union what they did with Yugoslavia and not to remind the biggest crimes against humanity in Vietnam.People around the world have to know and realize that its the US and its allies of Europe(NATO)are prepetually spreading this epedemy and inventing medicine as well.they are creating conflicts and animosities and supplying weapons too.when the problems escalate they jump into as negotiators for more gains and profits both material and of supermecy.I don't think if its only a religion(Islam) only that changes the normal minds into perversion and merciless that they kill innocent people.Its the outside pwers who are making best out of ignorance of these half cultured people.US is to be blamed.Is it not the USA where most of such killing sprees are seen almost every day?My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and those killed may rest in peace.