**A US major is under guard at a Texas military base as officials investigate what prompted a shooting attack that left 13 people dead.**Authorities named Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, as the man who opened fire on soldiers at Fort Hood on Thursday.
It is not clear what motivated him, but reports said the US-born Muslim was unhappy about being sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.
On Friday police raided his apartment to search for clues, CNN said.
Base commander Lt Gen Bob Cone said that one of the dead was a policeman and the others were soldiers. Thirty other people were injured in the attack.
President Barack Obama described it as “a horrific outburst of violence”.
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.”
The president 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.”
‘Could have been worse’
The shooting began at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical centre at Fort Hood.
MAJOR NIDAL MALIK HASAN
- US-born Muslim raised in Virginia
- Joined the army and trained to be a psychiatrist
- Treated soldiers returning from combat zones
- Described as a devout Muslim who attended prayers regularly
- Said to have been unhappy about imminent overseas deployment
Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan
Initial reports said that the gunman - armed with two handguns, one of them a semi-automatic - had been killed. However officials later said that the suspect was in custody.
Lt Gen Cone said a graduation ceremony for a group of soldiers was taking place close to where the shooting began.
“Thanks to the quick reaction of several soldiers, they were able to close off the doors to that auditorium where there were some 600 people inside,” he said.
“As horrible as this was, I think it could have been much worse.”
Maj Hasan is said to be in a stable condition after being shot several times. Lt Gen Cone said his death was “not imminent”.
A picture is beginning to emerge of the suspect, a psychiatrist who was transferred to the Texas base in July.
Reports suggested that he had been increasingly unhappy in the military and that his work at his previous post - Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC - had been the subject of concern.
FORT HOOD
- Largest US base in the world
- Home to about 40,000 personnel
- Built in 1942
- Focus for anti-war protesters
- Includes two museums and a lake
In pictures: Fort Hood shootings
His cousin told US media that Maj Hasan had been opposed to an imminent deployment overseas, describing it as his “worst nightmare”.
He also said that Maj Hasan had been battling racial harassment because of his “Middle Eastern ethnicity”.
The New York Times said the FBI had been investigating internet postings by a man called Nidal Hasan that appeared to back suicide bombings - but said it was not clear whether it was the suspect.
Asked whether the shootings were a terrorist act, Lt Gen Cone said: “I couldn’t rule that out but I’m telling you that right now, the evidence does not suggest that.”
‘Not ready’
The attack triggered shock and grief in Fort Hood, the largest US base in the world which is home to about 40,000 troops.
Soldiers used their clothes to treat the injured and a local hospital called for blood donors as wounded people were brought in.
“I was confused and just shocked,” said Specialist Jerry Richard, 27, who works on the base.
“Overseas you are ready for it. But here you can’t even defend yourself.”
Texas Governor Rick Perry ordered all flags in the state to fly at half-mast as a tribute to the victims.
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