Hostage Situation At Texas Synagogue
A man claiming to be the brother of terrorist Aaifia Siddiqui took hostages at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on Saturday morning.
A hostage situation unfolded Saturday at the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the suspect is reportedly heard in a Facebook live stream asking for his sister to be released from prison. He reportedly said he didn’t want anyone to be hurt and that he believes he is going to die. A reported 8,000 viewers were watching the synagogue Facebook video as the situation unfolded.
NBCDFW NBC5 reports the suspect is allegedly holding four hostages inside the synagogue, according to a law enforcement source at the scene including the rabbi.
The sister of the hostage taker is believed to be Aafia Siddiqui, “a known terrorist who is incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center Carswell”. She is also known as Lady Al Qaeda. U.S. authorities say Siddiqui is a dangerous terrorist with ties to the ringleader of 9/11. Counter-terrorism groups.
The FBI responded to the scene along with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers. Among the four hostages was the Rabbi of the congregation, named Charlie Cytron-Walker. As of the writing of this article one hostage is believed to have been released. The attack occurred on Shabbos or The Jewish Sabbath.
Colleyville is a small community of about 26,000 people located about 15 miles northeast of Fort Worth. The Synagogue has been located in this community since 1999. The identity of the attacker has not yet been released but the Woman believed to be his sister was a Neuroscientist from Pakistan.
Update: All the hostages have been released after the FBI went in.
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