November 05, 2009
Terrorist Attack on Fort Hood
There is breaking news of what sounds like a terrorist attack on Fort Hood.
Early reports are citing 7 dead, 12 wounded, and one shooter taken into custody and another still possibly on base. Some accounts claim there is a third suspect.
While there is no word yet on who is responsible, this sounds very similar to various plots by homegrown Islamic terrorist cells, such as the Willow Springs cell arrested in North Carolina in July.
One gunman may have been killed
Updates as they come in:
Number of wounded revised to 15, and perhaps as many as 20.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram says suspects were armed with M-16s. that could just as easily mean civilian AR-15s, as well.
The shooters are possibly soldiers?
Two suspects captured, four SWAT team members wounded.
FBI rules out terrorism. I think what they meant to claim is that this wasn't the work of an Islamic terrorist cell or an attack by domestic extremists. By any measure, this was a terror attack, no matter who the shooters or victims were.
Casualty figures have grown to 9 dead and 30 wounded.
12 KIA, 31 WIA, shooters confirmed as soldiers, at least one of which had a "Arabic-sounding name".
Twelve people were killed and 31 wounded in a shooting at Fort Hood on Thursday, officials confirmed.Ford Hood spokesman Sgt. Tim Volkert said the shooting occurred at 1:30 p.m. A military briefing at 4 p.m. said three assailants, all soldiers, fired shots at the Soldiers Readiness Processing Center and the Howze Theater next to it.
The facts of the story have solidified. Thee was one shooter, an American Major who used two handguns. Details here.
Hey buddy. Im stationed in Camp Liberty, Baghdad with 1CD, which is based out of Ft. Hood. Some of these shootings happened right down the street from where I used to live. Unsuprisingly, everyone here is talking about it.
From what I have gathered, the security restrictions were unusually lax today, because of some graduation ceremony. This would lend support to the theory of a terrorist attack, since deranged soldiers would not need to infiltrate the base to start with.
Theres also the multiple shooters angle: Technically, I suppose its possible two crazy Army gunmen would plan something like this, but it would be hard to co-ordinate. I mean, you ask your barracks mate if he wants to go on a killing spree; he responds by turning you in and you go to jail. Its hard to break that ice, although it is possible.
Again, this is all just idle speculation.
Why is ATF on the scene? The FBI I can understand, though with their record I doubt they would be able to find even the shooter who was killed.
I wonder how long it will be before they start calling for gun control. Ironic that it occured on a military base where guns are all over the place, but locked up.
Posted by: David at November 5, 2009 05:56 PMShooter identified as Major Malik Nadel Hasan, a Muslim convert. What a surprise...not!
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/soldiers-killed-fort-hood-shooting/story?id=9007938
Posted by: Here you go at November 5, 2009 06:05 PMATF is on the scene because of the firearms hence, "alcohol tobacco and firearms (ATF)"
Posted by: deployed at November 5, 2009 06:56 PMThis has home grown terrorism written all over it. There is no way a Major would just go postal on his fellow soldiers unless there was some sort of extremist motive. A Officer is taught from day 1 to take care of his or her troops at all cost. I'm not sure if this is official, but I've been told that this Major has not actually even been shipped once. If that is true, that would definitely rule out post traumatic stress. Even if he was shipped, it's still hard for me to believe that a Major would start to kill his fellow soldiers on a military base. Something tells me that this will not be reported as a terrorist attack though. Either because people don't understand that terrorism can be committed by people in the U.S., or just because it looks bad on someones political resume to have a terrorist attack happen on his or her watch. I guess we'll have to wait to see what happens.
Posted by: Scooby at November 5, 2009 07:03 PMThis sucks.
Posted by: brando at November 6, 2009 02:20 AMBob, you should update this post. The shooter used 2 handguns. At least that's the story from every outlet I've heard, including NPR news this morning (Friday, Nov. 6) as of 8:30 CST
Posted by: eric at November 6, 2009 09:55 AMOh gee, haven't you heard that the poor Major suffered from PTSD by osmosis? I believe this was a terrorist act and O-ball-less needs to call it like it is. Mmm-mmm-mmm . . .
Posted by: Jill at November 6, 2009 02:37 PM
