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Murder charges over US killings | Murder charges over US killings |
(1 day later) | |
A US Army major suspected of shooting colleagues at the Fort Hood military base in Texas last week will face 13 initial murder charges. | A US Army major suspected of shooting colleagues at the Fort Hood military base in Texas last week will face 13 initial murder charges. |
Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was shot by police and remains in hospital. He has refused to speak to investigators. | Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was shot by police and remains in hospital. He has refused to speak to investigators. |
President Obama has ordered a review after US intelligence authorities said they knew Maj Hasan had been in contact with a cleric sympathetic to al-Qaeda. | President Obama has ordered a review after US intelligence authorities said they knew Maj Hasan had been in contact with a cleric sympathetic to al-Qaeda. |
Maj Hasan was said to be unhappy about a possible deployment to Afghanistan. | Maj Hasan was said to be unhappy about a possible deployment to Afghanistan. |
The shootings took place at Fort Hood's crowded Soldiers Readiness Processing Center, where troops get medical check-ups before deploying abroad. | The shootings took place at Fort Hood's crowded Soldiers Readiness Processing Center, where troops get medical check-ups before deploying abroad. |
HASAN TRIAL PROCESS Trial by court martialJury comprising military personnelVerdict decided by secret ballot - two-thirds majority neededUnanimous vote required for death penalty | HASAN TRIAL PROCESS Trial by court martialJury comprising military personnelVerdict decided by secret ballot - two-thirds majority neededUnanimous vote required for death penalty |
At least 29 people were hurt in the attack. Major Nidal Hasan has been under armed guard in a hospital since being wounded in the shooting. | At least 29 people were hurt in the attack. Major Nidal Hasan has been under armed guard in a hospital since being wounded in the shooting. |
"Today I've confirmed that US Army Major Nadal Malik Hasan, a 39-year-old psychiatrist assigned to Darnell Medical Centre here at Fort Hood, has been charged with 13 specifications of pre-meditated murder under Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Chris Grey, a spokesman for the army's criminal investigation division, told a news conference. | "Today I've confirmed that US Army Major Nadal Malik Hasan, a 39-year-old psychiatrist assigned to Darnell Medical Centre here at Fort Hood, has been charged with 13 specifications of pre-meditated murder under Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Chris Grey, a spokesman for the army's criminal investigation division, told a news conference. |
"These are initial charges and additional charges may be preferred in the future, subject to the ongoing criminal investigation." | "These are initial charges and additional charges may be preferred in the future, subject to the ongoing criminal investigation." |
Maj Hasan has received the charges in hospital, his lawyer told the Associated Press news agency. He is reported to have been taken off a ventilator, and to have been talking to medical staff. | Maj Hasan has received the charges in hospital, his lawyer told the Associated Press news agency. He is reported to have been taken off a ventilator, and to have been talking to medical staff. |
MAJ NIDAL MALIK HASAN Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan Shock and insecurity at Fort Hood In pictures: Fort Hood shootings Fears for Muslims in US army | MAJ NIDAL MALIK HASAN Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan Shock and insecurity at Fort Hood In pictures: Fort Hood shootings Fears for Muslims in US army |
But his lawyer says he has not spoken to investigators. | But his lawyer says he has not spoken to investigators. |
The murder counts could rise if prosecutors decide also to charge him with the murder of an unborn child being carried by one of his victims, says the BBC's Matthew Price. | The murder counts could rise if prosecutors decide also to charge him with the murder of an unborn child being carried by one of his victims, says the BBC's Matthew Price. |
Maj Hasan is to be prosecuted in a military court. | Maj Hasan is to be prosecuted in a military court. |
If convicted he could face the death penalty - although no-one has actually been executed under the US military justice system for almost 50 years, our correspondent says. | If convicted he could face the death penalty - although no-one has actually been executed under the US military justice system for almost 50 years, our correspondent says. |
Intelligence review | Intelligence review |
Meanwhile there are several reports that former military colleagues of Maj Hasan had voiced concern about his performance and attitude for a number of years. | Meanwhile there are several reports that former military colleagues of Maj Hasan had voiced concern about his performance and attitude for a number of years. |
An FBI-led task force monitoring the e-mail of Yemen-based US cleric Anwar al-Awlaki said he had communicated with Maj Hasan - a US-born Muslim and army psychiatrist - on 10 to 20 occasions. | |
However, it was decided that further investigation was not needed, as the content of the messages did not advocate or threaten violence. | However, it was decided that further investigation was not needed, as the content of the messages did not advocate or threaten violence. |
SHOOTINGS AT FORT HOOD Timeline: Fort Hood shootings Coping with stress in the US military | SHOOTINGS AT FORT HOOD Timeline: Fort Hood shootings Coping with stress in the US military |
"I directed an immediate inventory be conducted of all intelligence in U.S. Government files that existed prior to 6 November 2009, relevant to the tragic shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, especially anything having to do with the alleged shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, US Army," Mr Obama said in a statement. | "I directed an immediate inventory be conducted of all intelligence in U.S. Government files that existed prior to 6 November 2009, relevant to the tragic shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, especially anything having to do with the alleged shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, US Army," Mr Obama said in a statement. |
"Additionally, I directed an immediate review be initiated to determine how any such intelligence was handled, shared, and acted upon within individual departments and agencies and what intelligence was shared with others. | "Additionally, I directed an immediate review be initiated to determine how any such intelligence was handled, shared, and acted upon within individual departments and agencies and what intelligence was shared with others. |
"This inventory and review shall be conducted in a manner that does not interfere with the ongoing criminal investigations of the Fort Hood shooting." | "This inventory and review shall be conducted in a manner that does not interfere with the ongoing criminal investigations of the Fort Hood shooting." |
Amid fears of a possible anti-Muslim backlash after the attack, President Obama has stressed the multinational diversity in the US armed forces. | Amid fears of a possible anti-Muslim backlash after the attack, President Obama has stressed the multinational diversity in the US armed forces. |
"They are Americans of every race, faith, and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. | "They are Americans of every race, faith, and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. |
"They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America," he said in the aftermath of the shooting. | "They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America," he said in the aftermath of the shooting. |