Soldier worried about attacks on Muslims

FORT KNOX, Ky. -- A U.S. soldier accused in a deadly grenade attack on his comrades in Kuwait said he did it because he believed American troops were going to rape and kill Muslims, an investigator testified Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. David Maier, an agent with the Criminal Investigation Division, testified at a hearing convened to determine if Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar should be court-martialed. Akbar, a 32-year-old Muslim, is accused of killing two officers and wounding 14 in the March 23 attack on a group of tents.

Maier arrived at the scene after the attack and said he was briefed by a commander, Col. Ben Hodges, who told him that Akbar talked about the crime after being read his rights.

According to Hodges, "Sgt. Akbar had made spontaneous statements related to the incident stating that he had done this act because we, or American soldiers, were going to kill and rape Muslims," Maier testified.

But when Maier questioned Akbar, Akbar invoked his right to have counsel present and the interview ended, the investigator testified.

Maier also said investigators found two incendiary grenades and one fragmentation grenade inside Akbar's gas mask case. Three empty grenade canisters and two grenade safety clips also were found inside a bag with Akbar's name on it, Maier said.

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