Witnesses: Major Yelled 'Allahu Akbar' Before Firing

Family says he is devout, not extremist

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 6, 2009 9:01 AM CST

(Newser) – Witnesses to the Fort Hood rampage say gunman Nidal Malik Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar"—Arabic for "God is Great"—as he opened fire. The Army hasn't confirmed the callout during the "calm and measured" shooting spree that killed 13. Hasan is a devout Muslim, but family members and acquaintances say he didn't hold extremist views—only that he was "mortified" about being deployed to Afghanistan and wanted out of the Army.

Military officials have not been able to talk to Hasan, who was shot four times himself and is on a ventilator. Authorities continue to investigate whether he authored Internet posts glorifying suicide bombers, and police raided his house today to seize his computer and look for other clues. The Army psychiatrist reportedly took aim at military personnel in the Fort Hood building and warned civilians to get out of the way, reports the New York Post.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

A military police officer stands guard at the entrance of Fort Hood, Texas, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Federal agents search the apartment of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan in Killeen, Texas, early Friday. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Nidal Malik Hasan in an undated file phto. (AP Photo/ Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences)

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Surveillance video shows Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan at a convenience store Thursday morning before the fatal shootings. (YouTube)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 43 comments

cunomor

Nov 10, 2009 2:26 AM CST

You might want to read Catherwood's "Christians, Muslims, and Islamic Rage". Then read up on Sayyid Qtub and his book "Sign Posts Along the Road". Ignorant comparisons between Islam and Christianity are completely useless and a distraction. Also, it is incredibly ironic that liberals defend Islam by making such comparisons, but devout Muslims abhor most things that liberals stand for. In fact, any western liberal would last 6 hours in nearly any Muslim country. Think about that....

Snarfeh

Nov 8, 2009 2:24 AM CST

@Jason - The last thing I would expect to come from a true radical, fundamental Christian is Jesus. True adherence to scripture means you should not eat pork, cheeseburgers or anything from a shell. Jesus responded to those laws by saying it is not that which we take in that is unclean, but that which we put out. The ironic thing is, Jesus wasn't a Christian.

Snarfeh

Nov 8, 2009 2:19 AM CST

@rob again - Sorry, I really need new glasses. Stuff I read is blurring together. I think I misread your comment or read the wrong one and associated it with your name. I actually increased page fonts recently and the articles are huge now but the damn comments did not increase. Anyone know if there is a fix for that with Mozilla?

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US Army • psychiatrist • mass shootings • Fort Hood • Fort Hood shooting • Nidal Malik Hasan

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Witnesses: Major Yelled 'Allahu Akbar' Before Firing