Fort Hood focusing on healing after shootings

Nov 9, 2009, 19:02 GMT

Washington - The US military at Fort Hood, Texas has taken steps to ensure soldiers and civilians affected by last week's shooting are receiving proper care to cope with the traumatic slayings.

Lieutenant General Robert Cone said arrangements have been made to help the 600 people he says who were directly affected by the rampage by a fellow soldier that left 13 people dead. The goal is to provide behavioural health assessments as well help those seeking care.

'We are working that very hard,' Cone said during a press conference at the base.

Authorities believe an Army psychiatrist, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, walked into a facility at the base and opened fire with two handguns. He was then shot by a civilian police officer and remains hospitalized.

Hasan was in line to deploy to Afghanistan and reportedly told family and co-workers he opposed the war and did not want to go. Investigators have yet to publicly discuss the potential motive behind the attack.

President Barack Obama will fly to Fort Hood to attend a memorial service on Tuesday.