A gunman held a rabbi and three others hostage at a synagogue in Colleyville, TX on January 15 for nearly 12 hours before being killed by law enforcement. All of the hostages were freed.
The hostage situation started toward the end of Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Israel; the suspect is reportedly calling for sister, Aafia Siddiqui, to be released from prison. Authorities have yet to confirm that the suspect is in fact Siddiqui’s brother, Muhammad Siddiqui; Muhammad Siddiqui’s lawyer is claiming that he is not the gunman. Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, was sentenced to 86 years in prison in 2010 for attempting to kill United States soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan. She is currently serving her sentence at Federal Medical Center Carswell prison in Fort Worth. The gunman reportedly said during a live stream of the services he is “going to die doing this” and that the hostages are “going to die.”
As of this writing, no one has been injured inside the synagogue. SWAT and the FBI are at the scene and the White House is monitoring the situation. The situation is ongoing.
.@POTUS has been briefed about the developing hostage situation in the Dallas area. He will continue to receive updates from his senior team as the situation develops. Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal law enforcement leadership.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) January 15, 2022
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also tweeted that he is monitoring the situation. “We pray for the safety of the hostages and rescuers,” he wrote.
I am closely monitoring the hostage situation taking place in Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.
We pray for the safety of the hostages and rescuers.
— Naftali Bennett בנט (@naftalibennett) January 15, 2022
Various Jewish groups voiced their prayers for the hostages and called for a peaceful resolution.
ADL is aware of the ongoing situation in Colleyville, TX and is engaged with local and federal authorities and the community’s leaders.https://t.co/TnwfzU2HSg
— ADL (@ADL) January 15, 2022
We are deeply concerned by reports of a hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the local Jewish community at this time.
We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) January 15, 2022
We are closely monitoring reports of a possible hostage situation unfolding at Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. We are praying for a swift and peaceful outcome.
— B'nai B'rith Intl. (@BnaiBrith) January 15, 2022
Thread reporting on ongoing hostage situation at Beth Israel synagogue in Texas. Praying for all there to be safe.⬇️ https://t.co/XY0enrr27k
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) January 15, 2022
Stop Antisemitism Executive Director Liora Rez said in a statement, “When Jews tell you antisemitism is a problem, listen to us. Antisemitism doesn’t just come from the white neo-Nazi movement – it comes from many sources like we see unfolding today in Colleyville, Texas. It’s critical not to turn a blind eye to any of it as the consequences can be catastrophic. “Our thoughts are with all the hostages and their families, along with the first responders, as they try to navigate this terrifying situation.”
American Jewish Committee Managing Director of Public Affairs Avi Mayer tweeted that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) “is increasing patrols around LA synagogues ‘as a precautionary measure’ in light of the situation in Texas.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has announced that it is increasing patrols around LA synagogues "as a precautionary measure" in light of the situation in Texas.
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) January 15, 2022
The rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, has been the rabbi of the congregation since 2006 and was previously the president of the South West Association of Reform Rabbis, according to the synagogue’s website. He also previously worked for Focus: HOPE, a Detroit-based organization focusing on ending racism and poverty, and Amherst Survival Center, a Massachusetts-based organization providing food for the needy. Cytron-Walker is the first full-time rabbi at the synagogue and Congregation Beth Israel is a reform synagogue that was first established in 1998.
A 2014 Foreign Policy article stated that Siddiqui is known as “Lady Al Qaeda” over her alleged ties to the terror group. According to Jewish News Syndicate, Siddiqui was initially arrested by Afghan police in 2008 for carrying sodium cyanide and a flash drive filled with instructions on how to build Weapons of Mass Destruction. While detained, Siddiqui allegedly grabbed a rifle on the floor and fired it at U.S. military personnel. Siddiqui has denied the allegations and over the years various activists have called for her freedom, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR did condemn the ongoing hostage situation.
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, our Texas chapter & @MPower_Change will host a Facebook live discussion on the campaign to free Dr. Aafia Siddiqui with Linda Sarsour & Dr. Aafia's attorney Marwa Elbially. @lsarsour #FreeAafia https://t.co/kSfSUPakaj
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) November 10, 2021
Bismillah. We strongly condemn the hostage-taking at Congregation Beth Israel in #Colleyville, Texas. This latest antisemitic attack on Jewish Americans worshipping at a synagogue is an act of pure evil. 1/2
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) January 15, 2022
We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, and we pray that law enforcement is able to swiftly and safely free the hostages. We are in contact with local community leaders to learn more and provide any assistance that we can. 2/2
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) January 15, 2022
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
UPDATE 1: Police announced that one male hostage has been released and he wasn’t injured.
Updated statement on #Colleyville incident. pic.twitter.com/ZgYzZhFk11
— Colleyville Police (@ColleyvillePD) January 16, 2022
UPDATE 2: The remaining hostages have been freed, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican.
Prayers answered.
All hostages are out alive and safe.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 16, 2022
#BREAKING: Gov. Abbott says all hostages have been rescued alive and safe. This comes just after our @DavidSFOX4 heard what sounded like a flash bang followed by multiple gunshots – at the scene near a Synagogue in Colleyville https://t.co/l4Q06WHQsi https://t.co/d3y7FgBYEb
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) January 16, 2022
UPDATE 3: The gunman who was holding the hostages is dead, according to various reports.
Man who took hostages at Texas synagogue shot and killed during police operation, according to local media. All hostages are safe.
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 16, 2022
The hostage-taker at Colleyville Beth Israel synagogue is dead.
— Matt Leclercq (@Matt_Leclercq) January 16, 2022
UPDATE 4: In a press conference, law enforcement said that the suspect has been identified but his name will not be released at this time. It also not yet known why the suspect chose the synagogue and the time. There will be a global investigation into the matter. None of the hostages were injured.
NTR SWAT took charge of the situation first and was relieved by FBI SWAT after. Special agent in charge says “persistent, constant negotiation with the subject” kept hostages alive. Investigation will be global. Tel Aviv, London, tracing contacts
— James Hartley ☀️ (@ByJamesHartley) January 16, 2022
A team from Washington will independently investigate the shooting. Subject has been identified, identity will not be released. Cannot talk now about why hostage rescue went in when they did, was “a deliberate decision”. Won’t add more
— James Hartley ☀️ (@ByJamesHartley) January 16, 2022
All hostages were adults. Don’t know why this location or time. Briefing over, story coming
— James Hartley ☀️ (@ByJamesHartley) January 16, 2022
UPDATE 5: The suspect has been identified as Malik Faisal Akram, 44. He was a British citizen.
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1482769733158121473?s=20
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