maca
5th November, 2009, 11:19 PM
Twelve shot dead at US army base
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46678000/jpg/_46678150_226-texas.jpg The three attackers were soldiers, the base's commander said
Twelve people have been killed and 31 injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the commander there has said.
Lt Gen Cone said one shooter had been killed in the incident and two others apprehended. They were all American soldiers. The base is locked down.
The shooters' motivation is not yet known, he said. One of the dead was a policeman but the others were soldiers.
Fort Hood, near the town of Killeen, is the largest US base in the world.
Home to about 40,000 US troops, the base lies between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (97 km) from each city.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif 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
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama had been briefed on the incident. He is expected to comment during a scheduled briefing.
Army spokesman Lt Col Nathan Banks at the Pentagon earlier told the Associated Press news agency the shootings had begun at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical processing centre at Fort Hood.
A serviceman stationed at Fort Hood who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC: "I heard the emergency announcement over the speakers outside and saw people rushing to get indoors.
"In our office we're okay but we're hearing about the deaths. It's horrible and very shocking.
"We are still on lockdown. I am hearing that at least nine people may be dead. This is so terrible and frightening."
The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says there are military police and Swat teams on the scene, and the FBI is on the way from Austin and Waco. Schools in the area have also been locked down.
Units at Fort Hood are among those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will have returned from there, our correspondent says. The base has a centre that deals with combat stress, he adds.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46677000/gif/_46677937_us_texas_killeen_2.gif
Hilary Shine, of the Killeen Fire Department told the BBC's News Channel Fort Hood was like a small city.
"It has schools, a hospital, a convenience store even. And it has a large daytime population - including civilians working on the base - with as many as 80,000 in this area during the daytime."
Local congressman John Carter, speaking to NBC News, said gunfire had erupted half an hour before a graduation ceremony was due to begin.
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson said in a statement: "I am shocked and saddened by today's outburst of violence at Fort Hood that has cost seven of our brave service members their lives and has gravely injured others.
"My heart goes out to their loved ones."
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46678000/jpg/_46678150_226-texas.jpg The three attackers were soldiers, the base's commander said
Twelve people have been killed and 31 injured in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, the commander there has said.
Lt Gen Cone said one shooter had been killed in the incident and two others apprehended. They were all American soldiers. The base is locked down.
The shooters' motivation is not yet known, he said. One of the dead was a policeman but the others were soldiers.
Fort Hood, near the town of Killeen, is the largest US base in the world.
Home to about 40,000 US troops, the base lies between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (97 km) from each city.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif 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
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama had been briefed on the incident. He is expected to comment during a scheduled briefing.
Army spokesman Lt Col Nathan Banks at the Pentagon earlier told the Associated Press news agency the shootings had begun at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical processing centre at Fort Hood.
A serviceman stationed at Fort Hood who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC: "I heard the emergency announcement over the speakers outside and saw people rushing to get indoors.
"In our office we're okay but we're hearing about the deaths. It's horrible and very shocking.
"We are still on lockdown. I am hearing that at least nine people may be dead. This is so terrible and frightening."
The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says there are military police and Swat teams on the scene, and the FBI is on the way from Austin and Waco. Schools in the area have also been locked down.
Units at Fort Hood are among those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will have returned from there, our correspondent says. The base has a centre that deals with combat stress, he adds.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46677000/gif/_46677937_us_texas_killeen_2.gif
Hilary Shine, of the Killeen Fire Department told the BBC's News Channel Fort Hood was like a small city.
"It has schools, a hospital, a convenience store even. And it has a large daytime population - including civilians working on the base - with as many as 80,000 in this area during the daytime."
Local congressman John Carter, speaking to NBC News, said gunfire had erupted half an hour before a graduation ceremony was due to begin.
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson said in a statement: "I am shocked and saddened by today's outburst of violence at Fort Hood that has cost seven of our brave service members their lives and has gravely injured others.
"My heart goes out to their loved ones."