Army psychiatrist kills 13 in gun rampage

A military psychiatrist went on the rampage at an army base in the US, shooting dead 13 and injuring dozens more.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Major Nidal Malik Hasan entered a station used to ready soldiers for deployment overseas at the Fort Hood compound in Texas and started firing.

Within minutes, a dozen soldiers at the base were dead or left dying from their wounds. At least 31 others – including two civilians – were injured in an attack described by President Barack Obama as a “horrific outburst of violence”.

The gunman was shot, but contrary to initial reports he was not killed. The suspect is currently under custody in hospital where he said to be in a stable condition.

It is believed that Major Hasan was shortly to be sent to either Iraq or Afghanistan, something family members said would have been his “worst nightmare”.

Nader Hasan, a cousin of Major Hasan, described the suspect as “a good American”.

He told Fox News that the family was “shocked”, adding: “We just found out on the news that he was being deployed, he never even told us.

“We’ve known for the last four or five years that was probably his worst nightmare. He deals with stories, he would tell us how he would hear things, horrific things.”

Mr Hasan added that his cousin had also complained of being harassed by others in the military.

Army officials refused to speculate on a motive as they began to investigate what could have driven the military mental health expert to apparently open fire.

But Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson confirmed that she had been told by a military source that the army psychiatrist was about to be deployed, although she couldn’t say where or when.

She added that the suspect had aired grievances against being sent overseas.

The shootings began yesterday at around 1.30pm local time (7.30pm Irish time) at Fort Hood’s readiness centre – a station where soldiers undergo medical checks before being sent off to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, three other suspects were detained on the base. But an official from Fort Hood said today they believe that the killings were the result of a single shooter.

The Fort Hood compound – the US’s largest military base – was immediately placed under lock down, with all vehicles barred from entering or leaving the complex.

It was only declared safe some five hours later.

Mr Obama met aides in the White House’s Situation Room after being informed of the incident.

In remarks given after speaking with senior military personnel, the US president said: “We do not know all the details at this moment.

“What we do know is that a number of American soldiers have been killed and even more have been injured in a horrific outburst of violence.”

Mr Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with the wounded and the families of the fallen.

He added: “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.”

Fort Hood is a sprawling 340 square mile military installation situated 50 miles south of Waco.

It houses some 4,929 active duty officers and 45,414 enlisted members of the army.

Speaking on GMTV, Christopher Haug, head of media relations at Fort Hood confirmed the suspect remained in hospital in a stable condition.

Describing the atmosphere on the base in the aftermath of the attack, he said: “The soldiers here have deployed to war and defended the nation and have ended up being attacked on their own home turf.

“It is obviously devastating to all of us and our hearts and minds go out to the families and friends of those who were injured or killed.”