Twelve soldiers shot dead at US Army Base

Minder · November 05, 2009, 10:24:53 PM

Twelve people have been killed and 31 injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the commander there has said.

Lt Gen Bob Cone said one shooter had been killed in the incident and two suspects arrested. All were American soldiers. The base is locked down.

The motivation for the shooting is not known, he said. One of the dead was a policeman but the others were soldiers.

President Barack Obama described it as "a horrific outburst of violence".

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, he said: "It is difficult enough when we lose these brave men and women abroad, but it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on US soil."

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, adding: "We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident."

Mr Obama said the White House was working with the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to make sure Fort Hood was secure.

Fort Hood, near the town of Killeen, is the largest US base in the world.

Home to about 40,000 US troops, the base lies between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (97 km) from each city.

Army spokesman Lt Col Nathan Banks at the Pentagon earlier told the Associated Press news agency the shootings had begun at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical processing centre at Fort Hood.

A serviceman stationed at Fort Hood who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC: "I heard the emergency announcement over the speakers outside and saw people rushing to get indoors.

"In our office we're okay but we're hearing about the deaths. It's horrible and very shocking.

"We are still on lockdown. I am hearing that at least nine people may be dead. This is so terrible and frightening."

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says units at Fort Hood are among those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will have returned from there.

The base has a centre that deals with combat stress, our correspondent adds.

Hilary Shine, of the Killeen Fire Department told the BBC's News Channel Fort Hood was like a small city.

"It has schools, a hospital, a convenience store even. And it has a large daytime population - including civilians working on the base - with as many as 80,000 in this area during the daytime."

Local congressman John Carter, speaking to NBC News, said gunfire had erupted half an hour before a graduation ceremony was due to begin.

Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson said in a statement: "I am shocked and saddened by today's outburst of violence at Fort Hood that has cost seven of our brave service members their lives and has gravely injured others.

"My heart goes out to their loved ones

Bod Mor · November 05, 2009, 10:30:30 PM

This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me.

Minder · November 05, 2009, 10:33:03 PM

One of the shooters (who was a soldier) has an Arab sounding name, Hasan someone or other........

orangeman · November 05, 2009, 10:43:10 PM

Sounds like a real cleaving match.

Gabriel_Hurl · November 05, 2009, 10:46:14 PM

Quote from: Minder on November 05, 2009, 10:33:03 PM
One of the shooters (who was a soldier) has an Arab sounding name, Hasan someone or other........

Malik Nadal Hasan

orangeman · November 05, 2009, 10:57:08 PM

Lt Gen Bob Cone said the shooter had been killed in the incident and two suspects arrested. All were American soldiers. The base is locked down.

Lt Gen Cone said the motive for the shooting was not known. One of the dead was a policeman, others were soldiers.

President Barack Obama described it as "a horrific outburst of violence".

The army has named the gunman as Major Malik Nadal Hasan. He was reportedly in his late 30s or early 40s and due to be sent on a mission to Iraq.

Tony Baloney · November 05, 2009, 10:58:55 PM

Just another day in paradise.

Celt_Man · November 05, 2009, 11:29:59 PM

Jaysus that's rough....

Capt Pat · November 05, 2009, 11:40:51 PM

A recent convert to islam and an army psychiatrist. You know maybe is it just me but I think that is a pretty dangerous combination, a recent convert to islam and a us army doctor all rolled into one. Honestly could they not just have told him to **** off before all this happened.

Donagh · November 05, 2009, 11:46:46 PM

Quote from: Capt Pat on November 05, 2009, 11:40:51 PM
A recent convert to islam and an army psychiatrist. You know maybe is it just me but I think that is a pretty dangerous combination, a recent convert to islam and a us army doctor all rolled into one. Honestly could they not just have told him to **** off before all this happened.

Or maybe some knuckledragging bigot marines couldn't tell the difference between a mans religion and his nationality and decided to give him a bit of abuse -- so the man decided it was payback time.

Celt_Man · November 05, 2009, 11:50:09 PM

Already I have heard mutterings of a sleeper cell job which I doubt straight away... I think a Major in the US army, given the seniority of that rank, could have done a lot worse than what he done....

pintsofguinness · November 05, 2009, 11:54:27 PM

Quote from: Capt Pat on November 05, 2009, 11:40:51 PM
A recent convert to islam and an army psychiatrist. You know maybe is it just me but I think that is a pretty dangerous combination, a recent convert to islam and a us army doctor all rolled into one. Honestly could they not just have told him to **** off before all this happened.

You think they should sack soldiers of a particular religion?

stew · November 06, 2009, 12:13:27 AM

Quote from: Donagh on November 05, 2009, 11:46:46 PM
Quote from: Capt Pat on November 05, 2009, 11:40:51 PM
A recent convert to islam and an army psychiatrist. You know maybe is it just me but I think that is a pretty dangerous combination, a recent convert to islam and a us army doctor all rolled into one. Honestly could they not just have told him to **** off before all this happened.

Or maybe some knuckledragging bigot marines couldn't tell the difference between a mans religion and his nationality and decided to give him a bit of abuse -- so the man decided it was payback time.

So naturally he goes and slaughters twelve men, I would say thats an appropriate response. Muppet!

stew · November 06, 2009, 12:18:00 AM

Quote from: pintsofguinness on November 05, 2009, 11:54:27 PM
Quote from: Capt Pat on November 05, 2009, 11:40:51 PM
A recent convert to islam and an army psychiatrist. You know maybe is it just me but I think that is a pretty dangerous combination, a recent convert to islam and a us army doctor all rolled into one. Honestly could they not just have told him to **** off before all this happened.
You think they should sack soldiers of a particular religion?

The mind boggles, the yanks treated asian americans like crap after pearl harbor, locked them up in camps, I doubt they will make the same mistake here. That said one would have thought that converts to Islam in the American military would be watched very closely given the way they run things, that and the fact that I would say those Muslims now serving in the American military can expect a rough go of it because this major killed twelve american soldiers.

Capt Pat · November 06, 2009, 12:23:49 AM

Quote from: pintsofguinness on November 05, 2009, 11:54:27 PM
Quote from: Capt Pat on November 05, 2009, 11:40:51 PM
A recent convert to islam and an army psychiatrist. You know maybe is it just me but I think that is a pretty dangerous combination, a recent convert to islam and a us army doctor all rolled into one. Honestly could they not just have told him to **** off before all this happened.
You think they should sack soldiers of a particular religion?

Yes

I mean I don't think the taleban are recruitng christians from Texas to fight with them. If a memeber of the taleban converted to christianity and started watching NFL and listening to Garth Brooks he wouldn't last long. Should the same not apply with the US army? Seriously though you have to be realistic and cut through all the equal rights stuff when you are fighting a war against religious extremists of a certain religion, that is pretty straight forward is it not?