Gunman in Texas military base shooting identified

The shooter in a rampage at the Fort Hood military base in the U.S. state of Texas on Thursday has been identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, who was a psychiatrist, CNN quoted law enforcers as saying.

MOSCOW, November 6 (RIA Novosti) - The shooter in a rampage at the Fort Hood military base in the U.S. state of Texas on Thursday has been identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, who was a psychiatrist, CNN quoted law enforcers as saying.

At least 12 people were killed, including the gunman, and 31 wounded in the shooting that U.S. President Barack Obama called "a horrific outburst of violence." Two other suspects were detained but later released, officials at the base said, adding that yet one other person, however, was in custody.

Obama said: "It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."

CNN quoted Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison as saying Hasan was about to be deployed to Iraq, "and appeared to be upset about that."

Fort Hood, the largest U.S. Army installation, is under a lockdown. The shooting occurred at the Soldier Readiness Center where soldiers are examined by medics.

Army officials said ten of the fatalities were soldiers, and one a contract police officer. Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said the shooter used two handguns.