An Army officer identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire at a Texas military base Thursday, killing 13 and wounding 31, according to several news agencies.

Major Nidal Hasan, the U.S. Army doctor identified as a suspect in the shooting at the U.S. Army post in Fort Hood, Texas, is seen in this undated handout photo from the website of the U.S. Government Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences downloaded on November 5, 2009. Major Hasan, a medical doctor, had been a Fellow in Disaster and Preventive Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the university. At least 13 people were killed and 31 wounded in a shooting at Fort Hood on Thursday with Major Hasan named as a shooter in the incident. REUTERS/Department of Defense/Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences/Handout

There was no immediate word on a motive for the shooting that began around 1:30 p.m.

Hasan was set to be shipped overseas.

A defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Assosiated Press that Hasan was a mental health professional — an Army psychologist or psychiatrist.

Military officials said the shooter worked as a psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for six years before being transferred to Texas in July, and that he received a poor performance evaluation while at Walter Reed.

Hasan is reportedly of Jordanian descent.

Lt. Gen. Bob Cone at Fort Hood told A.P. all the casualties took place at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where returning soldiers and soldiers about to be deployed undergo medical screening.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said Thursday about the suspect, "he has been known to have told people that he was upset about going (to Iraq)."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) released statements condemning the attacks Thursday.

"Arab Americans are as devastated about those killed and wounded and their families as all other Americans are," said Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News and spokesman of CAAO. "We stand with President Obama in condemning this horrific incidence of violence."

Siblani said Americans should wait for facts surrounding the case to emerge before drawing any conclusions about the incident.

"We ask all to remember that when people commit crimes, they do so not because of their religion or culture, but in spite of their religious and cultural upbringing," Siblani said.

ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said "This attack is absolutely deplorable. ADC has been consistent and on record in condemning any attacks aimed at innocents, no matter who the victims or the perpetrators may be. Such violence is morally reprehensible and has nothing to do with any religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin. ADC urges the FBI and law enforcement agencies to make every effort to see that justice is served.

"ADC also calls upon law enforcement agencies to provide immediate protection for all mosques, community centers, schools, and any locations that may be identified or misidentified with being Arab, Muslim, South Asian or Sikh as a clear backlash has already started. The actions of a few should not invite a backlash on innocent members of any community and we urge law enforcement and others to keep that in mind."

CAIR spokespeople said "We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law.

"No religious or political ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence.

"The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured."