The Union on Sunday identified the gunman who was shot dead after take four hostages in 10 hours of dramatic stalemate at a Texas synagogue as Malik Faisal Akram, 44, a British citizen.
On Saturday morning, Akram detained four people at Beth Israel Church in Colleyville, at one point demanding the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted and jailed for attempted murder. US military officers in Afghanistan. The stalemate ended a few hours later, around 9 p.m., when an elite FBI SWAT team stormed the synagogue, killing Akram. All four hostages – including the congregation’s rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker – made it out safely.
It’s not yet clear why Akram targeted the synagogue, but President Joe Biden – decrying the siege as “an act of terrorism” – said he had only been in the US for a few weeks and slept in an apartment. homeless shelter on the first night in this country. . Biden added that he “allegedly” purchased the gun used in the attack “on the street.”
The Blackburn Muslim Community in the UK confirmed Akram’s death in a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon, asking the community to “avoid participating in the sin of turning away” as authorities continue to investigate the attack.
The group shared a statement from Akram’s brother, identified as Gulbar, also condemning the siege.
“We would like to say that we as a family do not tolerate any of his actions and sincerely apologize to all the victims involved in this unfortunate incident.” he wrote.
Hours before the FBI revealed Akram’s identity, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said it was “aware of the death of a British man in Texas and is in contact with local authorities”.
“The FBI’s Evidence Response Team (ERT) will continue to process evidence at the synagogue,” the FBI wrote in its statement. “At this time, there is no indication that other individuals are involved. The FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force (NTJTTF), which includes member agencies from across the region, will continue to monitor investigative directions. An FBI Shooting Incident Review Team (SIRT) will conduct a thorough, factual, and objective investigation of the events. ”
According to Gulbar’s statement, the family became aware of Akram’s involvement in the crisis. They said that despite his “mental health problems”, they believed he would not harm his captives, insisting that they were eventually “released from the exit”. dangerous and unrescued.”
Akram’s family is said to have worked with authorities who are monitoring the situation and may have also been in contact with him throughout the incident. “There was nothing we could say to him or do to convince him to surrender,” Gulbar wrote.
During the hostage crisis, Akram repeatedly asked to speak to his “sister”, leading some to mistake him for the brother of Aafia Siddiqui, the architect Muhammad Siddiqui. Through their lawyers, both Siddiqi and her real brother condemned and shunned Akram’s actions.
According to Gulbar’s post, the FBI is expected to fly to the UK and meet the family later today.
On Facebook, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker thanked law enforcement, his family, the Jewish community, and the “human community” for their support.
“I am so grateful to be alive,” he wrote.
