Synagogue Hostages Rescued Unharmed; Islamist Suspect Dead

Keneci Channel

The incident started after a man with backpack entered a synagogue Saturday, in Colleyville, a small city in Tarrant county, Texas. The Shabbat service at Congregation Beth Israel was being livestreamed online. The suspect reportedly rushed in, threatened congregants and claimed to have explosives.

Four hostages including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, were initially held by the suspect who could be heard before the livestream was disabled, saying: "I will die... I'm going to die at the end of this, alright? Are you listening? I am going to die. OK? So don't cry for me."

In a statement, Colleyville Police Department Sgt. Dara Nelson said the department received the first call at 10:41 a.m. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI, joined officers from the Texas state Department of Public Safety DPS, at the scene.

The suspect was a supporter of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist and Islamist who was sentenced to 86 years in prison in 2010 for attempting to murder and assault U.S. military personnel and was being held at Federal Medical Center Carswell, at a prison in Fort Worth.

The hostage-taker later identified as 44-year-old British citizen of Pakistani decent, Malik Faisal Akram, demanded the release of Siddiqui, who U.S. authorities say is a dangerous terrorist with ties to the ringleader of 9/11 attack on the world trade center in New York.

Malik Faisal Akram

Siddiqui who counter-terrorism groups have dubbed “Lady al-Qaeda,” was once described by U.S. officials as “the most wanted woman in the world.” The government has refused to trade her for American hostages multiple times, including for journalist James Foley prior to his execution by ISIS.

Investigators continued to negotiate with the suspect, until at about 6:30 p.m. when Colleyville Police officials announced the release of a male hostage. Police said the suspect released the man shortly after 5 p.m. Officials report the man who required no medical attention confirmed earlier reports that three other hostage remained inside.

At about about 10:30 p.m., FBI officials confirmed that the hostage-taker is deceased. FBI Special Agent in Charge for Dallas Matthew DeSarno said the team made the decision to enter the synagogue and rescued all three of the remaining hostages.

Colleyville Police Chief Michael C. Miller said the FBI flew in 60-70 people from the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team(HRT) in Quantico, Virginia.

A video of the rescue operation shot by WFAA photographer Josh Stephen, shows three men who appear to be the remaining hostages running out of a door of the synagogue at about 9:15 p.m. Two men rushed out the door first, followed shortly by a third.

A few seconds later, a man believed to be the hostage-taker is seen stepping outside the door with a pistol in hand, before quickly retreating back into the building.

The video shows HRT swarming the building and moments later, four single gunshots ring out. The gunshots are followed shortly by a loud explosion.

The rescue team then rushes into a side door on the synagogue. As they enter, three more shots ring out followed a few seconds later by what sounds like a single pistol shot. Shouting can be heard coming from inside the building.

A few seconds later, the HRT members calmly walked out of the building, signaling the end of their brief operation.

DeSarno said the hostages were unharmed and would be reunited with their families. He said the team maintained near-constant contact with the suspect.

The FBI Special Agent who initially refused to formally identify the suspect, said: “We do believe that, from engaging with the subject, he was singularly focused on one issue and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community... We will continue to work to find motives and we will continue on that path in terms of the resolution of the incident.”

British Foreign Office’s Commonwealth and Development office reportedly said in a statement: “We are aware of the death of a British man in Texas and are in contact with the local authorities.” The statement did not directly mention the deceased Islamic terrorist Akram. However earlier media reports indicated the hostage-taker had a British accent.

The FBI is currently facing backlash on social media over DeSarno's comments during the press conference. Critics slammed the bureau for trying to downplay the antisemitic and Islamic ideological motive behind Akram's actions. Some conservatives called for radical reforms to "root out" "wokeness" and "political correctness" from the bureau.

Critics also raised concerns that the death of the Islamic terrorist during the rescue operation, may help FBI avoid public scrutiny over what the bureau knew about him.

WATCH the final moments of the hostage situation at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas.