Four people held hostage at a Jewish place of worship in Texas, US, were released on Saturday night after several hours of standoff. During this, the suspect killed in the firing by the security forces has been identified as Malik Faisal Akram, a British national. US President Joe Biden has called the incident a terrorist act. The FBI said in a statement that there was no indication that anyone else was involved in the incident. However, information about possible intent was not shared in the statement.
Akram was heard demanding the release of Pakistani scientist Afiya Siddiqui. An FBI and police spokesman declined to say whose shot Akram was killed, prompting the standoff to end. The suspect was heard during livestreaming of the incident (broadcast live on a social media platform) demanding the release of Siddiqui, who has been sentenced for the attempted murder of US military officers in Afghanistan.
Video footage released from Dallas TV station WFAA showed people running out of a door of a place of worship, only seconds after a gunman opened the door and then closed it. Shortly after, gunshots were heard and then an explosion was heard. Officials said a man held hostage at the Congregation Beth Israel building in Colleyville was freed earlier on Saturday and three others were held hostage in the FBI’s SWAT team building. After entering, he came out around nine o’clock in the night.
FBI Special Agent Incharge Matt DeSarno said the hostage taker focused specifically on an issue not directly related to the Jewish community and that there was no immediate indication that the person was part of a larger conspiracy. But Desarno said the agency would investigate from all angles. However, it is not clear why Akram chose the Jewish place of worship.
Law enforcement officials, on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that the hostage man demanded the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Afiya Siddiqui. Siddiqui, who is lodged in a federal prison in Texas, is suspected of having ties to al-Qaeda. Officials said the suspect had also said that he wanted to talk to Siddiqui.
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