A gunman has taken hostages at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas
(WFAA)
Police in Colleyville, Texas are negotiating with a man who took hostages at a synagogue on Saturday during a live streamed service, according to reports.
Colleville Police said they were responding to the situation with SWAT teams near Congregation Beth Israel, with FBI special agents at the scene.
“We are currently conducting SWAT operations around the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road. All residents in the immediate area are being evacuated. Please avoid the area,” the police department said at 11.31am Texas time.
The situation was still ongoing at 2.20pm, it later added.
The incident began while a service was being live streamed on Facebook, leading remote congregants to hear a man, likely the attacker, shouting on their feed.
In clips posted on Twitter before the original live stream was removed, a man can be heard saying: “What the f— is wrong with America? There is something f***ing wrong with this system that you are still trying to do a deal with me.”
According to ABC News, the suspect is called Muhammad Siddiqui and claims to be the brother of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently serving an 86-year prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas for attempting to murder a US soldier in Afghanistan.
A source at the scene told ABC that the suspect was armed and claimed to have bombs in unknown locations, demanding that Aafia Siddiqui be set free.
In one clip posted on Twitter, the man says: “Are you gonna get my sister on the phone or not? I tell you one thing – once you get my sister, things will [inaudible]… come on, get her on.”
Photos showed black police cars, police officers in combat gear, and an armoured police vehicle outside the front portico of the synagogue.
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‘Are you gonna get my sister on the phone?’
Here’s another clip allegedly taken from the synagogue’s most recent live stream before it cut off, in which a man – probably the hostage taker – can be heard shouting.
It’s hard to hear some of his words, but he seems to be saying: “Are you gonna get my sister on the phone or not? I tell you one thing – once you get my sister, things will [inaudible]… come on, get her on.”
Those words may substantiate reports that the hostage taking suspect is the brother of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, and is demanding she be freed from prison.
Io Dodds15 January 2022 22:41
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Hostage taker wants Pakistani terrorist out of prison, report claims
Police have not yet released any details of the suspect, but according to ABC News his name is Muhammad Siddiqui.
Citing a source at the scene, ABC said he claims to be the brother of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving an 86-year prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas for attempting to murder a US soldier in Afghanistan.
The source said he was armed and claiming to have bombs in unknown locations, and that he had demanded Aafia Siddiqui be set free.
Io Dodds15 January 2022 22:30
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‘We believe the hostages are fine’
The hostages are still okay, according to a report by Bloomberg. It quotes Harold Gernsbacher, chairman of the Secure Community Network, a Jewish safety organisation, who said: “We believe the condition of the hostages is fine.”
The report added that nearby residents have been evacuated.
Io Dodds15 January 2022 22:05
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Well-wishers flood the synagogue’s Facebook page
The Congregation Beth Israel is a reform Jewish synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, part of the conjoined Dallas and Fort Worth metro area.
Its Facebook page describes it as “a vibrant reform Jewish congregation committed to providing life-long opportunities for spiritual growth and learning based on Jewish values”, founded in 1999.
On Saturday afternoon its page was flooded by well-wishers from across the US and as far as Ghana and Israel, who offered prayers to protect the hostages.
“Shalom from Wisconsin. Thinking of you and hoping the best outcome possible,” said one. “We are just hearing this horrifying news. From Israel we send our prayers and hopes. Stay strong – you are not alone,” said another.
A photo posted by the synagogue for Hanukkah in 2020
(Congregation Beth Israel via Facebook)
Io Dodds15 January 2022 21:58
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Facebook live stream captures man shouting aggressively
This is an audio clip allegedly taken from the last moments of the synagogue’s live stream. The male voice shouting may be the hostage-taker, and appears to be in the midst of negotiations, possibly with the police.
“What the f*** is wrong with America?” he says, in a non-US accent. “There is something f***ing wrong with the system that you are still trying to do with me… either there is something wrong with me or there is something wrong in America.”
The live stream has now been removed from the synagogue’s Facebook page.
Io Dodds15 January 2022 21:50
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Hostage situation has now lasted three hours
Good afternoon. A hostage situation is ongoing at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas.
Colleyville Police issued its first alert at 11.31am Texas time, saying it was responding with SWAT teams. At 2.20pm it said the situation was not over, meaning it has now been going on for about three hours.
Io Dodds15 January 2022 21:26