Fort Hood army shooter 'is still alive'

Published: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:00

The US army major suspected of killing 13 people at a base in Texas is alive and under armed guard in hospital, it has emerged. Initial reports had said Major Malik Nadal Hasan had been killed after reportedly opening fire with two handguns at Fort Hood, the largest US military base in the world. Thirty other people were wounded after the military psychiatrist reportedly went on a rampage in the base's soldier readiness area, where medical tests are performed prior to overseas deployments, before being shot four times by base police.

Barack Obama has already addressed the US, describing the incident as "tragic" and a "horrific outburst of violence". Base spokesman Lieutenant General Bob Cone said all of the victims apart from one, a civilian policeman, were soldiers. Correcting earlier claims the 39-year-old major had been killed, Lt Gen Cone confirmed in a press conference Major Hasan was still alive, receiving medical treatment and now in custody.

"His death is not imminent," he said of the suspect's condition. The motive for the shooting has yet to be established, although reports suggest Major Hasan, a US-born Muslim, had complained of being harassed and was on the verge of being deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan. His cousin, Nader Hasan told Fox News: "He hired a military attorney to try to have the issue resolved, pay back the government, to get out of the military. He was at the end of trying everything."

Asked whether the shootings may be linked to terrorism, Lt Gen Cone said: "I couldn't rule that out but I'm telling you that right now, the evidence does not suggest that." In a televised address following the shootings, President Obama said: "These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk, and at times give, their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis. "It's 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."

Fort Hood can house up to 40,000 soldiers. In the aftermath of Thursday's shootings, which began at 13:30 local time (19:30 GMT), the entire base was in lockdown.

The site was only declared safe some five hours later.

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