Hostages safe after Texas synagogue standoff
2 Min Read
One of the four hostages held at Congregation in Colleyville was released; three others were rescued when authorities entered the building.
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Law enforcement teams stage near Congregation Beth "Israel" while conducting SWAT operations.
A man held hostages for more than ten hours Saturday at a Texas synagogue, where he could be heard ranting in a live stream, demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist he claimed was his sister.
During the standoff, one of the four hostages held at Congregation in Colleyville was released; three others were rescued when authorities entered the building around 9 pm. The hostage-taker was killed, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno stated that an investigation into "the shooting incident" would be launched.
The FBI and a police spokesperson both declined to comment on who shot the man.
Law enforcement officials who spoke to the AP earlier on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation said the hostage-taker demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist.
According to DeSarno, the man has been identified, but "we are not prepared to release or confirm his identity at this time."
What happened?
According to a law enforcement official, a rabbi in New York City received a call from the rabbi believed to be held hostage in the synagogue. The rabbi in New York then dialed 911.
People were evacuated from the surrounding neighborhood shortly after police were called to the synagogue around 11 am, according to FBI Dallas Spokesperson Katie Chaumont.
For a time, the services were live-streamed on the synagogue's Facebook page.
"You've got to do something. I don't want to see this guy dead," the man said shortly before 2 pm. The feed was cut off a few moments later. A Meta company spokesperson later confirmed that the video had been removed from Facebook.
