US President Barack Obama led his nation in mourning yesterday as shocked Americans struggled to understand why a Muslim army doctor killed 13 in a massacre at a US military post.
Alleged shooter Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a psychiatrist, also wounded 30 people in Thursday’s rampage.
In his weekly radio address yesterday, Obama sought to reassure US soldiers.
“Thursday’s shooting was one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base,” he said. “And yet, even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America.”
He noted that soldiers and civilians rushed to help, tearing off bullet-riddled clothes to treat the injured.
Obama ordered flags to fly at half-staff at the White House and federal buildings, as troops here and around the world held a minute’s silence to mourn the dead.
Obama would also attend a memorial service due to be held in the coming days, the White House said.
Hasan has been moved from a civilian to a military hospital, in part for security reasons, Fort Hood deputy commander Colonel John Rossi told reporters.
Hasan was born in the US to Palestinian parents who had moved from a town near Jerusalem. His cousin Nader Hasan, writing on behalf of the family as Hasan’s parents are dead, said they were stunned by Thursday’s events and stressed they all considered themselves Americans.
“Our family loves America. We are proud of our country, and saddened by today’s tragedy,” Nader Hasan said in the message posted on the Washington Post Web site.
Meanwhile, Obama will delay his visit to Tokyo by one day, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said yesterday.
Japanese broadcaster NHK and Jiji Press reported that the US had asked Tokyo to change the schedule for the two-day visit to allow Obama to attend a memorial service for those killed at Fort Hood.
Obama had been due to arrive for his first trip to Japan on Thursday for talks with Hatoyama.
Obama would now be arriving on Friday and stay until Saturday, a foreign ministry official said.
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