An aerial view of police standing in front of Church Beth Israel Synagogue on Sunday, January 16, 2022 in Collieville, Texas. (Photo: AP)
Worshipers invited a stranger to a Texas synagogue when he knocked on their door and offered him tea, before brandishing a gun and taking them hostage in a 10-hour siege, which the FBI called Called a “terrorism-related matter” in which the Jewish community was targeted. ,
Rabbi Charlie Citron-Walker, who was among four congregations held captive on the Jewish Sabbath Saturday, told CBS on Monday that he and others managed to escape after chair thrown at hostage And then ran for the exit door.
The FBI has identified the man as Malik Faisal Akram. A 44-year-old British citizen.
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“When I took her in, I stayed with her. Making tea was an opportunity for me to talk to her. And in that moment, I didn’t hear anything suspicious. Some of her story didn’t add up completely, so I Was a little curious, but not necessarily something unusual,” said the rabbi.
The rabbi returned to pray, after which he said he “heard a click – and it could have been anything – but it turned out it was his gun.”
One hostage was released safely after six hours of tense talks with the help of the suspect’s family. Members of an FBI hostage rescue team raid the synagogue, ending in a shootout with the suspect dead.
it was not clear whether gunman took his own life or was killed by members of the FBI team. The FBI said its Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating the incident.
Rabbi Citron-Walker of the Beth Israel Congregation in Collieville, west of Dallas, Texas, said he took hostage training from the FBI to determine when to try to escape.
“When I saw an occasion where he was not in good condition, I made sure that the two gentlemen who were still with me, that they were ready to go, (and that) the exit was not too far away,” Citron- Walker said.
“I told them to leave. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door, and the three of us were able to get out without even firing a shot.”
Police in England said they had detained two teenagers for questioning in connection with the case.
Hate crimes targeting the American Jewish community account for more than half of all religion-based crimes nationwide, the Anti-Defamation League said.
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