US Major Held after Base Shooting, 13 Killed

Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment storm the grounds of the Soldier Readiness Center in a show of force as they help in the apprehension of Maj. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A US major is under guard at a Texas military base as officials investigate what prompted a shooting attack, whose death toll has risen to 13.

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."

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