New Delhi: All the people held hostage inside a synagogue in Texas were released safely and alive after an hour-long standoff between an armed man and negotiators. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that “all hostages are alive and well.”
An armed man has taken several people hostage at a Texas synagogue, where he was apparently demanding the release of a convicted terrorist. Although details were still unclear, AFP cited reports that the synagogue’s rabbi and two others had been taken hostage.
The Collyville Police Department in the State of Texas received a call to service at approximately 10:41 a.m. (local time) and was alerted to an emergency situation at the Beth Israel Congregation, with reports spreading rapidly that it was a hostage situation. Was.
The hostage negotiators were locked in a standoff with the armed man and were able to free one of the hostages “unprotected” after eight hours, while an unconfirmed number of hostages were still in the synagogue. ,This person will be reunited with his family at the earliest and does not require medical help.”
ABC News reports that the armed man claimed to have planted bombs at undisclosed locations.
The armed man was demanding the release of former Pakistani scientist Afiya Siddiqui. In 2010, a New York court sentenced him to 86 years in prison for attempting to assassinate US officials in Afghanistan. The high-profile case had created an uproar in Pakistan.
Siddiqui is currently lodged in the Federal Medical Center (FMC) prison in Texas.
Colleyville Police said in a tweet at 11:30 a.m. (local time) that it was “conducting a SWOT operation” at the Beth Israel Congregational address.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that US President Joe Biden has been “informed of hostage status”. The incident has also drawn concern from Jewish organizations around the US and the Israeli government.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israel was “closely monitoring” the situation of the hostages. “We pray for the safety of the hostages and rescuers,” Bennett tweeted.
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