‘British Citizen’ Malik Faisal Akram Dead After Texas Synagogue Hostage Situation Ends, he Reportedly Wanted Release of Pakistani Suspected of Having Al-Qaeda Ties

The FBI has identified gunman Malik Faisal Akram, a British citizen, as the Texas synagogue hostage-taker yesterday. Akram appears to be dead, and details are that Akram was shot and killed. Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported on Twitter last night that all the hostages were freed.

Prayers answered.

All hostages are out alive and safe.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 16, 2022

It’s hard to say if pictures and ethnicity of Akram will soon be released or if he was an immigrant from a Middle Eastern country who recently achieved his British Citizenship or not. The Wall Street Journal reported on the man calling him a British Citizen in the title and burying his name underneath the title. Barron’s reported:

“At this time, there is no indication that other individuals were involved,” the statement from the FBI’s field office in Dallas said.

The hostage situation reportedly occurred at the “Congregation Beth Israel synagogue” in Colleyville, Texas.

Akram reportedly was heard on a live stream of the services at the synagogue on Facebook demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. Siddiqui was suspected to have ties to Al-Qaeda.

Bloomberg also reported:

Video from Dallas TV station WFAA showed people running out a door of the synagogue, and then a man holding a gun opening the same door just seconds later before he turned around and closed it. Moments later, several rounds of gunfire could be heard, followed by the sound of an explosion…

…Police were first called to the synagogue around 11 a.m. and people were evacuated from the surrounding neighborhood soon after that, FBI Dallas spokeswoman Katie Chaumont said.

Saturday’s services were being livestreamed on the synagogue’s Facebook page for a time. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that an angry man could be heard ranting and talking about religion at times during the livestream, which didn’t show what was happening inside the synagogue.

This story may be updated as the situation develops.