Authorities have made two arrests in connection with the hostage standoff at a Texas synagogue. The suspect, Malik Faisal Akram, was shot dead by police after holding prisoners for 10 hours at the place of worship in Colleyville.
Initially, two teenagers were arrested in the UK on Tuesday night and later released without charge. However, on Thursday, January 20, counterterrorism police announced the arrest of two men in Birmingham and Manchester.
“Two men have been arrested this morning in Birmingham and Manchester,” said counterterrorism police.
The suspects, whose ages have not been disclosed, are currently in custody for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
The siege at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville ended with all hostages being released unharmed and the death of the suspect after an FBI team stormed the building.
President Joe Biden labeled the incident as an ‘act of terror’ and suggested that Akram obtained his weapons after arriving in the US.
US officials believe Akram arrived at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York around two weeks prior to the attack.
The violent incident occurred during the synagogue’s live-streamed Sabbath service, where Akram demanded the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist jailed for terror charges.
Akram’s family has expressed devastation over the events and has disassociated themselves from his actions, offering apologies to all the victims involved. This statement was shared on the Blackburn Muslim Community Facebook page.