London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that its counter-terrorism police were liaising with U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not intended to be public. on a tourist visa from Great Britain, according to a U.S. Kennedy International Airport in New York about two weeks ago, a law enforcement official said.Īkram arrived in the U.S. Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on Sunday, Biden said Akram allegedly purchased a weapon on the streets.įederal investigators believe Akram purchased the handgun used in the hostage-taking in a private sale, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. President Joe Biden called the episode an act of terror. Greater Manchester Police tweeted that counter-terrorism officers had made the arrests but did not say whether the pair faced any charges. The investigation stretched to England, where late Sunday police in Manchester announced that two teenagers were in custody in connection with the standoff. Moments later, several shots and then an explosion could be heard.Īuthorities have declined to say who shot Akram, saying it was still under investigation.
#STANDOFF 2 MAP TV#
Video of the standoff’s end from Dallas TV station WFAA showed people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later before he turned around and closed it. We were terrified,” Cytron-Walker told “CBS Mornings.” “The last hour or so of the standoff, he wasn’t getting what he wanted.
The statement followed comments Saturday from the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office that the hostage-taker was focused on an issue “not specifically related to the Jewish community.”Īkram could be heard ranting on a Facebook livestream of the services and demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. The agency noted that Akram spoke repeatedly during negotiations about a prisoner who is serving an 86-year sentence in the U.S.
The FBI on Sunday night issued a statement calling the ordeal “a terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted” and said the Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating. The first hostage was released shortly after 5 p.m. And all three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired.”Īuthorities identified the hostage-taker as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed Saturday night after the last three hostages ran out of the synagogue in Colleyville around 9 p.m. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. “The exit wasn’t too far away,” Cytron-Walker said. Cohen recalled rearing up in his chair and slowly moving his head and mouthing “no.” As the gunman moved to sit back down, Cohen said Cytron-Walker yelled to run. At one point as the situation devolved, Cohen said the gunman told them to get on their knees. They talked to the gunman, he lectured them. We weren’t released or freed,” said Cohen, who was one of four people in the synagogue for services that many other Congregation Beth Israel members were watching online.Ĭohen said the men worked to keep the gunman engaged. Cohen, described the ordeal on Facebook on Monday. Later, he heard a gun click as he was praying.Īnother man held hostage, Jeffrey R. He said the man was not threatening or suspicious at first.
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told “CBS Mornings” that he let the gunman inside the suburban Fort Worth synagogue Saturday because he appeared to need shelter. The rabbi of a Texas synagogue where a gunman took hostages during livestreamed services said Monday that he threw a chair at his captor before escaping with two others after an hours-long standoff, crediting past security training for getting himself and his congregants out safely.
0 kommentar(er)
