US officials identified the gunman as Major Nidal Malik Hasan |
As the US reacts with shock to the shootings at Fort Hood, a picture is beginning to emerge of the man believed to have been behind them.
Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was born and raised in Virginia. His parents moved to the US from a Palestinian town near Jerusalem, according to his cousin.
After high school he joined the US Army, which put him through medical school. He became a psychiatrist, treating troops returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Maj Hasan was described as a devout Muslim. A local imam told the Washington Post that he attended daily prayers at a mosque when he worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC.
"We hardly ever got to discussing politics," Faizul Khan said. "Mostly we were discussing religious matters, nothing too controversial, nothing like an extremist."
In other comments Mr Khan said that Maj Hasan had tried, but failed, to find an equally religious woman to marry.
On a form for those looking for spouses through the mosque he listed his birthplace as Arlington, Virginia, but his nationality as Palestinian, Mr Khan said.
'Worst nightmare'
Reports suggested in recent years he had become unhappy in the military. He had recently been transferred to Fort Hood.
His cousin said he had faced harassment over his "Middle Eastern ethnicity" and had been trying to leave the army.
His aunt, Noel Hasan, also blamed his desire to be discharged on harassment.
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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 |
"Some people can take it, and some cannot," she told the Washington Post.
"He had listened to all of that, and he wanted out of the military, and they would not let him leave, even after he offered to repay."
Ms Hasan said her nephew had been upset by the injuries he saw at Walter Reed. "He must have snapped," she added.
She said Maj Hasan had spent holidays and free time at her house, and that he "did not make many friends".
He had joined the military over the wishes of his parents, who have since died, his aunt said. Despite his recent attempts to leave, "he would tell us the military was his life".
Several reports said Maj Hasan was about to be deployed overseas against his wishes.
"We've known over the last five years that was probably his worst nightmare," his cousin, Nader Hasan, told Fox News.
The Associated Press cited an unnamed official as saying that Maj Hasan had received a poor performance evaluation from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center before transferring to Fort Hood in July.
Dr Thomas Grieger, who was training director at the centre while Maj Hasan was an intern there, said told AP that he had had "difficulties" that required counselling and extra supervision.
Internet postings
However, Maj Hasan was "mostly very quiet", and never spoke ill of the military or his country, Dr Grieger added.
"He swore an oath of loyalty to the military," he said. "I didn't hear anything contrary to those oaths."
Col Terry Lee, who is retired but said he had worked with Hasan, told Fox that Maj Hasan had often got into arguments with military colleagues who supported the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Maj Hasan had hoped that US President Barack Obama would pull troops out, Col Lee said.
One official was quoted by the New York Times as saying that the FBI had become aware of internet postings by a man calling himself Nidal Hasan.
In one such posting, the act of a suicide bomber who kills himself to protect Muslims was compared to a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to protect other soldiers.
However, officials said they had not confirmed that Maj Hasan was the author of the postings.
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