Texas synagogue siege: Teens held in UK as Briton named as hostage-taker

Two formative years had been arrested in England as fragment of the investigation correct into a hostage-taking incident at a synagogue in Texas on Saturday.

British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn, used to be shot tiresome after a standoff with police in Colleyville.

Particulars of the ages or genders of the pair arrested in south Manchester on Sunday night were now not revealed.

Elevated Manchester Police stated it used to be liaising with native communities and continuing to support within the US inquiry.

The power stated the two formative years were arrested “as fragment of the continuing investigation into the assault” and were being held in custody for questioning.

In step with US police sources, Akram arrived within the nation by strategy of New York’s JFK Global Airport two weeks within the past.

Akram’s brother Gulbar confirmed his dying in an announcement carried on the Blackburn Muslim Neighborhood’s Fb web page. He apologised to the victims and stated his brother had been tormented by psychological effectively being components.

The Metropolitan Police earlier confirmed counter-terrorism officers were in contact with US authorities and the FBI.

The siege began at around 11: 00 native time (16: 00 GMT) when police were called to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue within the suburb of Dallas.

Neighbours suggested the BBC they heard a commotion when armed police were sealing off the set apart, followed later by a loud bang, which shook their dwelling.

Suzanne Hughes stated she used to be at dwelling celebrating a birthday with her family after they saw police with guns drawn bustle in direction of the synagogue.

“I used to be ready for the synagogue to luxuriate in exploded – it had now not, but it used to be very unnerving. We heard gunfire when we acquired to the backyard.

“It be unhappy. This is The US. You are supposed in an effort to be stable in every single set apart you trail,” she added.

Akram won initial rep entry to to the synagogue throughout the carrier by claiming to be a homeless man, in accordance with a police source quoted by CBS.

Among the hostages used to be the synagogue’s rabbi. One used to be launched after six hours with the opposite three being ended in safety by police several hours later.

The total hostages at the synagogue were freed unharmed.

US President Joe Biden called the hostage-taking an “act of alarm”, and UK International Secretary Liz Truss described it as an “act of terrorism and anti-Semitism”.

Ms Truss stated in a tweet: “We stand with US in defending the rights and freedoms of our residents against of us that unfold detest.”

This FBI-led investigation is probably to unfold across three continents, focussing totally on what’s smartly-known about hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram here within the UK, besides any individual who can luxuriate in helped him, either within the UK or the US.

His reported ask for the open of convicted Pakistani neuroscientist Aafiya Siddiqui from a US jail has given this a extra dimension which will indubitably lead to contact between the FBI and the authorities in Pakistan.

Akram’s alternative of a Jewish synagogue for the siege has already induced an announcement from Israeli Top Minister Naftali Bennett, warning of the want to combat anti-Semitism.

But for now the immediate focal point is on any individual Akram used to be in contact with within the set apart of north-west England the set apart he came from.

That brings in MI5, the safety carrier, Counter Terrorism Policing North West and Elevated Manchester Police.

There used to be no affirmation yet of whether Akram used to be already known to the UK authorities but he had no prior police story within the US.

The hostage-taker used to be heard nerve-racking the open of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist jailed over attempts to murder US troopers in Afghanistan, law enforcement officers suggested native media.

Officers added Akram additionally asked to discuss to Siddiqui, who’s serving an 86-300 and sixty five days length of time in a detention center in Forth Worth, Texas, about 20 miles far off from the synagogue. Siddiqui has distanced herself from his actions, issuing an announcement thru a attorney.

President Biden looked to verify the attacker had been attempting for her open, saying the Texas assault used to be connected to “somebody who used to be arrested 15 years within the past and has been in jail for 10 years”.

The president stated the attacker had interestingly offered weapons after he landed within the US.

Police sources negate that no explosive area subject used to be learned on Akram and US federal courts produce now not display he had any prison history.

Akram’s brother stated he had liaised “with Faisal, the negotiators, FBI and so forth” throughout the siege but “there used to be nothing shall we luxuriate in stated to him or performed that would possibly per chance well luxuriate in convinced him to resign”.

Gulbar added: “We would choose to inform that we as a family produce now not condone any of his actions and would choose to sincerely apologise wholeheartedly to all of the victims keen within the miserable incident.

“We would additionally choose so as to add that any assault on any human being be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim and so forth is depraved and can always be condemned.”

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