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The United States plans to livestream the execution of former Army Major Nidal Hasan, who will be put to death by firing squad, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said.
A Pentagon official told the BBC that Hasan would be executed for killing 13 unarmed US service members at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.
Last week, the Pentagon announced plans to carry out Hasan’s death sentence. It would be the first execution of a US military service member in more than 60 years.
“I can confirm that the public will be able to watch Nidal Hasan’s execution live,” Hegseth said on Thursday. “People should understand how severe the consequences are for actions like his.”
In an interview with US broadcaster Real America’s Voice, the defence secretary said a group of soldiers would carry out the execution by firing squad.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth had personally recommended the method and President Donald Trump had approved it.
The BBC contacted the White House to ask whether Trump supported livestreaming the execution of a former service member, but no immediate response was received.
Hasan’s execution is scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas. It would be the first execution of a US service member by firing squad since World War II.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, admitted his role in the November 5, 2009, shooting at the Texas military base. The victims were unarmed service members waiting at a medical facility for appointments and vaccinations.
He was tried by a military court in 2013 and apologised for his actions. However, he said he had carried out the attack to protect Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan.