Obama tribute
Leading mourners at the Texas-based military base, the US commander-in- chief vowed that the man responsible for their deaths would not go unpunished.
He condemned the “twisted logic” that led to the killing spree, contrasting it with the “dignity and decency” of the dead, the wounded and the men and women who rushed to save others. He said “no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts”.
Accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, the president met injured soldiers and the families of those killed in last Thursday’s attack.
Referring to the 12 soldiers and one civilian who died in the incident, Mr Obama said: “Their lives speak to the strength, the dignity and the decency of those who serve.”
The investigation into why an army psychiatrist turned his guns on his fellow servicemen is continuing, but officials believe Major Nidal Malik Hasan acted alone and without outside direction.
The 39-year-old suspect is awake and talking to medical staff after coming out of a coma, but he has refused to answer questions. Witnesses have said they heard Hasan cry “allahu akbar” – Arabic for “god is great” – before opening fire at the sprawling military complex.
