Video from Dallas TV station WFAA shows people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later, before he turns around and closes the door. [62], The FBI believes that Akram acted alone,[64] and Matthew DeSarno, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Dallas field office, said there was no indication that the man was part of any broader plan. The. They truly live up to the translation of their name - Community of Friends.more, This synagogue has been around for over 100 years. [17][29] She later claimed she was not against all "Israeli Americans". The hostage-taker was dead, authorities said at a. The Munich Massacre was an attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, by eight members of the . In nearby Dallas, Mayor Eric Johnson said the police department was adding extra patrols near synagogues and other sites. I'm hopeful it ends the best way it can, obviously with no one hurt," she said. The live stream continued for a time. Her family released a similar statement, denouncing the hostage-taking. 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. [4] [5] The congregation was initially a chavurah established in 1999 with 25 families; a religious school with 75 children was founded shortly afterward. Organizations like SCN have intensified security training in communities across the country. It's a space of peace surroundedmore, We have raised our children at Temple Shalom, and the synagogue is like a second home to mymore, Adat Chaverim is a friendly, welcoming Reform Congregation serving Collin County. NBC also reported that the suspect got the rabbi to call another rabbi in New York to demand Siddiquis release, though the New York-based rabbi called 911 instead. During interrogation at an Afghan base, prosecutors said Siddiqui grabbed a rifle and fired shots at US soldiers and federal agents. We want the assailant to know that his actions are wicked and directly undermine those of us who are seeking justice for Dr. Aafia.. [44] At around 10:00a.m., Akram entered Beth Israel by knocking on a locked glass door[44] and posing as a homeless man seeking shelter. [89] The ADL issued resources to counter hate and misinformation. TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Pleasant Run will remain closed tonight and through much of the day tomorrow between Hardage Lane and Shelton Drive. [26][27] He believed Siddiqui was "framed". The livestream went down around 2 p.m. Because the man at one point reportedly referred to Siddiqui as sister, some initial reports erroneously concluded he was her brother. Jan 16 (Reuters) - A gunman who took four people hostage at a Dallas-area synagogue and was himself killed as federal agents stormed the temple was identified on Sunday as a British. Read the latest here. Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller confirmed at a late-night news conference Saturday that the hostage-taker was dead, but gave no further details about the circumstances of his death. [43] Over the two weeks leading up to the incident, Akram's Internet search history revealed that he looked up information about influential rabbis, Siddiqui, gun stores, and pawnshops. The other three hostages were rescued at about 9:30 p.m. and all were unharmed. DALLAS Both Dallas and Fort Worth police were stepping up their patrols at city synagogues on Saturday in the wake of the hostage situation at the . Jews control the media. Colleyville Police spokeswoman Sgt. [18][38][40][41] On video dated January 2, Akram was captured being dropped off at one of the shelters by an unknown individual who stayed with him at the shelter for fifteen minutes and hugged him before departing. [53][54] Siddiqui's lawyer said her client had no involvement in the incident. [7][8][10][11] Cytron-Walker was already set to leave the congregation in June 2022 when the incident occurred. The synagogues Facebook livestream kept rolling as the siege unfolded, providing a glimpse into the tense situation until Facebook removed the video at about 2 p.m. Nobody could be seen on the video, but a man with an accent could be heard making repeated demands to speak to his sister on the phone, and to have her released from prison. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistan-born neuroscientist, has become a rallying cry for militant groups demanding her release from a U.S. prison. DeSarno added that the man appeared to be singularly focused on one issue and that his issue was not connected to the Jewish community. But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hatewe will stand against anti-Semitism and against the rise of extremism in this country. Shortly before 2 p.m., the man said, "You got to do something. COLLEYVILLE, TexasIn the final moments of a 10-hour standoff with a gunman at a Texas synagogue, the remaining hostages and officials trying to negotiate their release took "near simultaneous . [90], Police outside the Colleyville synagogue on January 15, 2022, Akram enters the U.S. and acquires weapon, series of recent attacks on American Jews, History of antisemitism in the United States, Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting, List of antisemitic incidents in the United States, "The Colleyville Hostage Crisis: Aafia Siddiqui's Continued Pertinence in Jihadi Terror Plots against the United States", "Feds Bust Felon Who Allegedly Sold Handgun to Synagogue Hostage-Taker", "Texas Hostage Taker Identified as British Citizen Who Traveled to U.S. in Recent Days", "Gunman holds hostages at synagogue in Texas", "Colleyville police SWAT team involved in incident at synagogue", "Man holding people in Colleyville, Texas, synagogue dead; hostages released safely", "The synagogue is a tight knit community that came together in the 1990s", "Lansing native freed from Texas synagogue 'grateful to be alive', "All Texas synagogue hostages 'out alive and safe' after harrowing 12-hour standoff, suspect is dead", "Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, the 'mensch' liked even by the man who took him hostage", "2 men arrested in the UK as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue standoff, police say", "Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker shares what happened inside Texas synagogue during hostage crisis", "Texas synagogue hostage-taker was British", "Synagogue hostage-taker had mental health issues", "Brother of Texas synagogue hostage-taker says 'religious nuts got a hold of him', "Malik Faisal Akram: Everything we know about the Texas synagogue hostage-taker", "Timeline of synagogue hostage standoff sheds light on suspect's travel in US", "Texas synagogue siege: British hostage-taker Faisal Akram 'ranted about 9/11 attacks', "Texas synagogue hostage-taker was known to MI5", "Texas hostage taker had criminal and mental health history in UK", "Texas synagogue siege: Malik Faisal Akram was investigated by MI5", "Texas synagogue siege terrorist Malik Faisal Akram was referred to Prevent", "Texas Hostage Taker Was Known to British Intelligence", "Synagogue Hostage-Taker Had 'Mental Health Issues,' Brother Says", "Synagogue hostage case has strong ties to Houston where Aafia Siddiqui once lived", "Who is Aafia Siddiqui? [13][40][58][59][60] Video taken outside the synagogue by WFAA just before 9:15p.m. showed the hostages sprinting out of the building while being followed by Akram, who then withdrew into the building. At least four people are being held hostage at theCongregation Beth Israelin Colleyville, Texas, according to a law enforcement official, and the situation is ongoing. ", New York City Mayor Eric Adams said extra police have been deployed to synagogues as a precaution. "I have been fully briefed by Police Commissioner Sewell and Im confident we are taking the right steps. U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX 24th District), whose district includes Colleyville, said during a phone interview with NBC 5 late Saturday afternoon that she had learned one of the hostages may have been released due to a medical issue. Both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria have offered to exchange American prisoners in exchange for her, garnering her the title of the The Worlds Most Wanted Woman in a 2014 Foreign Policy profile. [44], On January 5, Akram arrived at the Islamic Center of Irving to pray. Law enforcement officials briefed on the situation said that the man inside the synagogue is asking for her release. President Biden has been briefed on the developing hostage situation at a Texas synagogue and top members of his national security team are in touch with federal law enforcement leaders, according to a tweet from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. The video showing the man described as "ranting" and making anti-American and antisemitic statements was removed by Facebook. Out of an abundance of caution the NYPD has deployed additional resources to key Jewish locations around the city Saturday," Adams said. Four hostages are safe and their captor is dead after an hours-long standoff that began when the man took over services at a Texas synagogue where he could be heard ranting on a live stream and . [40][65] British counterterrorism police are assisting the U.S. Tactical officers from the FBI Hostage Rescue Team subsequently entered the synagogue and fatally shot Akram. [41], On the morning of January 15, 2022, Akram visited a Starbucks located less than a mile away from the Congregation Beth Israel, then he traveled to the synagogue by bicycle. Moments later, the feed cut out. I don't want to see this guy dead." The suspected hostage-taker had been heard during a livestream worship service demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. [7][8] The synagogue's rabbi at the time of the crisis was Charlie Cytron-Walker, originally from Lansing, Michigan. "It's an evolving situation, and we have a lot of law enforcement personnel on scene," Chaumont said. He was pretty irritated and the more irritated he got, he'd make more threats, like `I'm the guy with the bomb. In an alert, Secure Community Network, which consults with national and local Jewish organizations, said the man was reportedly armed and making bomb threats. A native of Lansing, Michigan, Cytron-Walker and his wife have two daughters. COLLEYVILLE, TX All hostages have been freed unharmed after a 10-hour standoff at the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, and the suspect who held them is dead, authorities. Cytron-Walker said after his rescue that he was not initially suspicious of Akram, but he was "curious" after some of his story did not add up. This latest antisemitic attack at a house of worship is an unacceptable act of evil, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement Saturday. FBI Dallas spokeswoman Katie Chaumont said early Saturday afternoon an FBI SWAT team had been called to the scene and that crisis negotiators had been communicating with someone inside the synagogue. The SWAT situation in Colleyville is resolved and all hostages are safe, the local police said on Twitter. A rabbi is believed to be among the hostages. Authorities have identified him but cannot yet release his identity to the public, the FBI said. [17] The brother urged him to release the hostages and surrender to police, but Akram said that he came to the synagogue with the intent to die, telling his brother that he intended to go down as a martyr and would be "coming back in a body bag. In 2018, 11 people died in a massacre at a synagogue near Pittsburgh. [43] Electricity was cut to the synagogue, and agents breached the building at around 9:22p.m.[52][62] Within seconds, the agents shot Akram multiple times, killing him. [67], The day after the incident, Akram's two teenage sons were apprehended in south Manchester, North West England, by officers from Counter Terror Policing North West. #Colleyville. She is currently being held in the Federal Medical Center, Carswell, a women's federal prison in Fort Worth, while serving an 86-year sentence for attempted murder and other crimes. [33], During her trial, Siddiqui made various antisemitic statements and asked that there not be any Jewish people on the jury, going so far as to demand genetic tests on jurors at one point, to determine if they were Jewish. The sale reportedly occurred on January 13, and the man had exchanged several phone calls with Akram within the two preceding days. The FBI called out its Hostage Rescue Team from Quantico, Virginia, and some 60 to 70 people came to the site, Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said. Witnesses at the scene described hearing several loud bangs following by gun shots. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, who represents the area where the hostage situation is taking place in the US House of Representatives, said she is praying for safety and quick resolution for all involved in a tweet from her official account. I dont want to see this guy dead. Moments later, the feed cut out. Malik Faisal Akram. The remaining hostages were later killed during a botched rescue attempt. He also said that he chose to take hostages in a synagogue because the U.S. "only cares about Jewish lives" and because "Jews control the world. The building has a striking cubic concrete structure clad with stone in its lower part and topped by a glass cube. All hostages held by a man at a Jewish synagogue, including reportedly a rabbi, during an hours ours-long standoff near Dallas were released unharmed, Texas Gov. Annuity vs. cash, what would you have in Texas after taxes? The Associated Press reported worshipers who heard the livestream said the hostage-taker demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. military officers while in custody in Afghanistan, one of the law enforcement officials said. [14] Livia Link, the Israeli Consul General in Houston, Texas, attended the scene, and the Israeli government established contact with U.S. law enforcement regarding the situation. An armed man took four hostages during a live-streamed Shabbat service at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville Saturday morning. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience. This is a breaking news story. [70] On January 20, two men were arrested in Manchester and Birmingham, West Midlands, as part of the investigation into the Colleyville incident. [53] The Muslim community of Blackburn, the hometown of Akram, expressed their solidarity with the Jewish community and stated, "our sympathy goes out to the hostages and the rest of the Jewish community". "He was just all over the map. Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $1.05B. Congregation Beth Israel, which is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, serves about 157 families. Portions of this report were also taken from NBC News and The Associated Press. She said she heard the man rant against America and claim he had a bomb. A man took hostages at a Dallas-area synagogue during Saturday morning services, and authorities were negotiating to defuse the situation. [4][6][7] After in its early years holding its services at rented facilities, Congregation Beth Israel opened a synagogue of its own in 2004. Nick Tre. [17] He later wrote that their whole family condemned Akram's actions. Crime in The News. Don't cry about me."[4][32] At one point, Akram asked each hostage how many children they had, and then said to the hostage negotiator: "Do you want to have seven children lose their parent? He claimed to have been carrying a bag around for 16 hours containing weapons. The synagogue, like many others across the country, moved its Sabbath morning services to Facebook Live because of the coronavirus pandemic. Just after 5 p.m. local time, as the hostage situation dragged into its sixth hour, people could be seen praying in their vehicles at a nearby parking lot, as several armored SWAT vehicles parked at a staging area at a nearby middle school. NBC News has learned from three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter that the hostage-taker had the rabbi call a rabbi in New York City to say he was being held hostage and that the hostage-taker wanted his sister set free. One hostage - a man - was released . My family have been members for over 80 years and we are very happy with Temple. [4][40] As he was being taken hostage, Jeffrey R Cohen secretly dialed 9-1-1 and placed his phone down on its screen before moving as commanded. Today's result, four safe hostages and the situation resolved, was the result of a long day of hard work by nearly 200 law enforcement officers from across this region. [18][57] Authorities suspect Akram chose to call Buchdahl because of her leadership position of a synagogue in New York City, where Siddiqui was convicted. There were concerns at the time of her sentencing that her imprisonment might inspire retaliatory attacks, though Siddiqui appealed to her supporters for calm. Police in Colleyville, Texas, said they are "currently conducting SWAT operations" at a synagogue, prompting the evacuation of residents in the area on Saturday afternoon. [24] After he spent six months in Pakistan in 2020, Akram was investigated by the MI5, the British security service. Marwa Elbially, an attorney for Siddiqui, told The Daily Beast the 49-year-old inmate had one message: She would tell this individual to immediately release the hostages. [9] He became the congregation's rabbi in 2006, and he is known for his work in interfaith relations. She could not say whether the person was armed and she declined to describe what the person had said to authorities, citing operational sensitivity. Colleyville Police said that SWAT teams descended on the synagogue at 10:41 a.m. local time. That is who weare, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement made us all proud." We hope and pray for a peaceful resolution of the situation in Texas and we will continue to monitor the situation.". [79][80][81] Jewish leaders also called for stronger turnout at synagogues as a show of defiance against antisemitism. shared a number of quotes from the livestream in a series of tweets. Very involved in the community.more, This synagogue teaches and follows authentic Torah Judaism. SWAT team members deploy near the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Jan. 15, 2022. Who is the suspect? Got a tip? Please check back for updates. [3][14] He was born to a family originally from Jhelum, a city in Pakistani Punjab. [66] On January 21, the FBI said it was investigating the incident as a "federal hate crime" and an "act of terrorism". Francis, who lives in Rhome and grew up near Colleyville, tuned in to the live stream after she read on Facebook that there was a hostage situation at the synagogue. Colleyville police and the FBI gave a briefing shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday to confirm the standoff had been brought to a close and that the four hostages being held captive inside Congregation Beth Israel had been rescued and were unharmed. His final threat was made on September 12, when he said that he wished that a court usher had been killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks the day before. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. COLLEYVILLE, TexasA bizarre, daylong hostage drama at a Dallas-area synagogue ended in dramatic fashion late Saturday with an eruption of what sounded like gunfire, the release of all the. ANDY JACOBSOHN/AFP via Getty Images 12:16 AM / January 16,. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. The first released hostage, a man, was unhurt and will not require medical attention, Colleyville police said. [18], The Times of London reported that Akram had been referred to Prevent, a voluntary British counter-radicalization program, in 2016 and 2019 amid concerns about his views; it was unclear whether Akram took part in the program. Cytron-Walker and another hostage, Jeffrey R. Cohen, revealed new details Monday about what happened inside the synagogue during the 11 hours after suspected hostage-taker Malik . Im going to die doing this all right? 3:19 3-Minute Listen Playlist Download Embed Transcript The FBI has released the name of the man they say held four people hostage in a Texas synagogue Saturday. I have six beautiful kids There are hostages in the synagogue who are going to die. There have been no reported injuries, FBI Dallas spokesperson Katie Chaumont said. Since Siddiquis conviction, her family, supporters, and multiple terrorist groups have called for her release. It was built between 2004 and 2006 as the new main synagogue for the Jewish community in Munich and is located at the Sankt-Jakobs-Platz. Matt DeSarno, the special agent in charge at FBI Dallas, told reporters authorities had no reason to believe there was any ongoing threat and that the suspect had focused on one issue that was not specifically threatening to the Jewish community.. COLLEYVILLE All four people taken hostage inside a synagogue during a morning service were safe Saturday night after an 11-hour standoff. The synagogue had been live-streaming its services on Facebook; the suspects actions had been partially recorded on the stream. The man who took them hostage was deceased, shot when a hostage rescue team breached the synagogue at about 9:30 p.m. Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Office confirmed Sunday the identity of the hostage-taker as44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, 44, a British citizen. One hostage has been released from a Texas synagogue on Saturday amid an ongoing standoff between police and a man who had been holding four people. "Thanks to the courageous work of state, local, and federal law enforcement, four Americans who were held hostage at a Texas synagogue will soon be home with their families. Two law enforcement officials say investigators believe the suspect may have been motivated by a desire to free. According to recorded audio recovered from the livestream, the man was seeking the freedom of Aafia Siddiqui, a relative by marriage of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, the chief architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. NBC reported that the man asked Cytron-Walker to call a rabbi in New York, demanding Aafia Siddiquis release. At one point, the suspect asked the synagogues occupants how many children they have, and the four people inside could be heard giving muffled responses. Federal prosecutors said that in 2018, an Ohio man planned to fly to Texas and attack the prison where Siddiqui is being held, and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Two teenagers were arrested in South Manchester by officers from the Counter Terror Policing North West, an alliance of police forcesin the United Kingdom, on Sunday in connection with the standoff at the synagogue. [1] He released one hostage after six hours, and the remaining three hostages escaped eleven hours into the standoff. [45] His movements on January 1215 were unclear. NBCUniversal, Inc. Police secure the area around Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 in Colleyville, Texas. We are in contact with law enforcement as the situation continues to evolve.. Officials said they had identified the suspect and that he had acted alone, but they were not ready to reveal him to the public. Buchdahl immediately contacted law enforcement. Dallas field office on Sunday confirmed the identity of the hostage taker as Mr. Akram, who was a British citizen. [43][63], At around 9:30p.m., after an 11-hour standoff, all remaining hostages were confirmed to have been recovered unharmed. She said it sounded like the man was talking to the police department on the phone, with the rabbi and another person trying to help with the negotiations. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. What I like alot about Temple is all of the classes they offer year around to members and non members. The hostage-taker has not been positively identified, according to officials who spoke to the AP. The suspect is deceased, Colleyvilles police chief, Michael Miller, told reporters at a late-night press conference, adding that the hostages had been unharmed. The F.B.I. President Joe Biden was briefed on the ongoing situation, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Saturday. [72] On January 25, two additional men were taken into custody in Manchester as part of the investigation. This assailant has nothing to do with Dr. Aafia, her family, or the global campaign to get justice for Dr. Aafia, Floyd said in a statement. . Exclusive video from WFAA photographer Josh Stephen shows three hostages bursting out of one of the synagogue's doors as FBI agents surround the building. Two law enforcement officials tell CNN that investigators believe the hostage taker at a Colleyville, Texas, synagogue may have been motivated by a desire to free Aafia Siddiqui, who is. If you make a mistake, this is all on you.' [18], Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani national and alleged al-Qaeda operative, formerly dubbed "Lady al-Qaeda". To our understanding, there is a single man he is very concerned about a female that was [to be] incarcerated for 85 years on a significant list of terroristic charges. His objective, what he has said, is to work to free that person," Gernsbacher said. It ended when the FBI hostage team went into the synagogue. In 2019, a woman was killed in a shooting at a Poway, California, synagogue. "Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal law enforcement leadership. (JTA) All four hostages at a synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area were declared out alive and safe by Texas Governor Greg Abbott at 9:33 p.m. CST on Saturday following a 12-hour standoff with an armed assailant in an unfolding saga that terrified Jews worldwide. None of the hostages have been identified, but one is believed to be the synagogue's only rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker. President Joe Biden. Jessika Harkay, a reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, shared a number of quotes from the livestream in a series of tweets. Temple offers alot of programs for everyone of all ages. After the hostages had been rescued unharmed, President Biden released the following statement late Saturday night. Nearby residents were evacuated from the surrounding area as police surrounded the building, with little to no information available on what was happening inside. Early on Sunday morning, Colleyville Police said residents who were evacuated from the area during the standoff were allowed to return to their homes overnight. The man did not need medical attention. Cytron-Walker credited the information learned in the courses with saving the hostages' lives. No, Worlds Tallest Dog Doesnt Have A Saddle; No, You Cant Ride Him. [1] Hostage negotiations ensued, during which Akram demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national and alleged al-Qaeda operative imprisoned in nearby Fort Worth for attempted murder and other crimes. Another cool thing about Temple is the LARGE Jewish archive they have. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has agents from the Dallas Field Division assisting with the hostage situation at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, according to a tweet from ATFs official account. [49][50], A livestream of the synagogue's services on its Facebook page streamed the ongoing situation, including the forceful taking of hostages. "The service was being livestreamed on Facebook, and the live recording has continued to capture muffled . [23], Akram then traveled to Dallas, Texas, apparently by air on December 31, 2021, and intermittently stayed in at least two local homeless shelters between January 2 and 11. The hostage situation unfolded during Shabbat morning services at Congregation Beth Israel, a Reform synagogue in Colleyville, a suburb north of Fort Worth. When the live stream cut out, the man was getting pretty irate, Francis said. ", The Anti-Defamation League tweeted Saturday afternoon that it is aware of the ongoing situation in Colleyville, TX and is engaged with local and federal authorities and the communitys leaders.. COLLEYVILLE, TexasA bizarre, daylong hostage drama at a Dallas-area synagogue ended in dramatic fashion late Saturday with an eruption of what sounded like gunfire, the release of all the. We are in contact with local community leaders to learn more and provide any assistance that we can., with additional reporting by Blake Montgomery. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Saturday afternoon that President Joe Biden had been briefed and was receiving updates from senior officials. [21][22][23] A community organizer in Blackburn said that Akram served a custodial sentence in England. This highlights the need for all of us to be aware and vigilant and most importantly to keep the individuals in the synagogue in our thoughts and prayers and hope for a peaceful resolution, Masters told JTA. Update 10:55 p.m. EST Jan. 15: U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, told a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter in a text that the hostage-taker is dead. Victoria Francis told The Associated Press that she watched about an hour of the live stream before it cut out. Shortly before 2 p.m., the man said, You got to do something. An unidentified man entered Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and held four people captive in a reported attempt to free a Pakistani woman with ties to al-Qaeda, leading to a standoff with law enforcement that lasted nearly 12 hours. [54] He threatened to kill the hostages, saying, "If anyone tries to enter this building, I'm telling you everyone will die," and "I'm going to die. Greg Abbott declared in a statement: Prayers answered.
dallas synagogue hostage
