Hostage-taker shot dead at synagogue in Texas ‘was British’
A man who took four people hostage at a synagogue before being shot dead was a British citizen, it is understood.
The hours-long stand-off ended in Texas at around 9pm local time on Saturday night when an FBI swat team entered the building.
The final three hostages who had been taken at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville earlier that day were freed.
Moments later, several rounds of gunfire could be heard, followed by the sound of an explosion.
FBI chiefs confirmed the captor was killed but declined to answer questions about who shot the man.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: ‘We are aware of the death of a British man in Texas and are in contact with the local authorities.’
During the incident, the hostage-taker could be heard ranting, apparently in a British accent, on a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill US army officers in Afghanistan.
FBI special agent in charge Matt DeSarno said that the man had been identified ‘but we are not prepared to release his identity or confirm his identity at this time’.
He said the hostage taker was specifically focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community, and there was no immediate indication that the man was part of any broader plan.
But he said the agency’s investigation ‘will have global reach’ and that the legal attache offices in London and Israel had been contacted.
All four hostages were unharmed and were due to be reunited with their family after the incident, he added.
Earlier, law enforcement officials said the man had demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al Qaida – who is currently in prison in Texas.
The officials said he said he wanted to be able to speak to her.
President Joe Biden, who was briefed on the crisis as it unfolded, praised the ‘courageous work’ of state, local and federal law enforcement in freeing the hostages.
‘There is more we will learn in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage taker. But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hate; we will stand against anti-Semitism and against the rise of extremism in this country,’ he said in a statement.
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