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HOSTAGE HORROR
Colleyville, Texas, synagogue hostages ‘out alive and safe’ after FBI negotiations in hours-long siege
FOUR worshippers who were taken hostage at a Texas synagogue on Saturday morning are all "out alive and safe," officials said.
The hostage situation, which lasted nearly 12 hours, unfolded in Colleyville after a man stormed the temple, demanding to speak to convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui.
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Late on Saturday night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott that all four people were taken out of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue.
The hostage-taker, according to the FBI, is dead after loud bangs and gunfire were heard inside the building.
One of the hostages shortly after 5pm. The hostages will be reunited with their families as soon as possible.
It was reported the congregation's rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, was among the hostages who were safely freed.
The FBI said during a press conference late on Saturday that they know the identity of the suspect, but were waiting to release more information.
The hostage-taker reportedly demanded to speak to convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui.
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Aafia Siddiqui, also known as "Lady Al Qaeda," is serving an 86-year sentence at a federal prison near Fort Worth.
She's a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to Al Qaeda.
But a lawyer for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, representing her brother Muhammad, condemned the attack and said the family was working "for the release of their sister from incarceration by legal and non-violent means only."
ABC News had previously reported that Siddiqui's biological brother may be involved after the gunman referred to her as his "sister," but the lawyer said the reports were inaccurate.
“We strongly condemn the hostage-taking at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas," read from the council.
“This antisemitic attack against a house of worship is unacceptable. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, and we pray that law enforcement authorities were able to swiftly free the hostages and bring them to safety.
“We want to make it very well known that the hostage-taker is NOT Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s brother, who is not even in the same region where this horrible incident is taking place.
“We want the hostage-taker to know that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and her family strongly condemn this act and do not stand by you."
The suspect also claimed to have placed bombs in unknown locations, according to ABC News. He was carrying backpacks, claiming to have had explosives.
A man's voice was heard talking on the live stream occasionally saying "do something" and "I haven't spoken to her," and at times yelling profanities.
He was also allegedly heard saying, "I am going to die. Do not cry for me," local KTVT.
The man also made mention of having "six beautiful kids."
Texas resident Victoria Francis told The Associated Press that she watched about an hour of the livestream before it cut out, listening to the man rant against America and claim he had a bomb.
“He was just all over the map. He was pretty irritated and the more irritated he got, he’d make more threats, like ‘I’m the guy with the bomb. If you make a mistake, this is all on you.’ And he’d laugh at that.
“He was clearly in extreme distress.”
No one was seen on camera through the live stream; only voices were heard. A Meta company spokesperson later confirmed that Facebook removed the video.
The synagogue's morning service began around 10am, according to their calendar, which is around the time cops said they received calls about the situation.
BELOVED RABBI
Many have taken to Twitter offering thoughts and prayers to Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was among the hostages taken on Saturday.
According to the synagogue's website, Cytron-Walker is their first full-time rabbi since 2006.
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The hostage-taker had Cytron-Walker call another in New York City in another attempt to demand the release of Siddiqui, according to NBC News.
The rabbi in New York City had called the NYPD, who said they were aware of the situation.
As a precaution, the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau to the synagogue where the rabbi works and other synagogues across the city.
Dallas and Los Angeles are also among the cities that stepped up police presence at synagogues as the situation in Colleyville unfolded on Saturday.
Police were stationed around the synagogue and the FBI worked to negotiate with the suspect and deescalate the situation for around 12 hours.
The White House was aware of the situation on Saturday, with Press Secretary Jen Psaki saying President Joe Biden was briefed on what was happening.
"He will continue to receive updates from his senior team as the situation develops.
"Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal law enforcement leadership."
Anna Salton Eisen, a founder and former president of the synagogue, said the congregation has about 140 members and Cytron-Walker has worked hard to build interfaith relationships in the community.
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“This is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced," she said.
"You know, it’s a small town and it’s a small congregation. No matter how it turns out it’s hard to fathom how we will all be changed by this, because surely we will be.”
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