US attack 'could have been worse'

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Many more people could have died in an attack at a US army base, if not for the heroism of security forces at the scene, an army investigator has said.

Army CID spokesman Chris Grey's statement came as details emerged of action taken by two police officers to confront suspect Maj Nidal Malik Hasan.

Sgt Mark Todd described kicking away Maj Hasan's gun and cuffing him after colleague Kimberly Munley shot him.

Thirteen people died and 38 were wounded in the Fort Hood shooting.

The 39-year-old army psychiatrist was shot four times and fell into a coma.

He has now been taken off a ventilator but it is not clear whether he is able to communicate.

Investigators are still trying to establish a motive for the attack, Mr Grey said, despite interviews with more than 170 witnesses and victims.

It was "evident that more lives would have been lost" were it not for the actions of the police officers and soldiers at the scene, he added.