TX - Malik Faisal Akram 44, shot dead by LE in hostage situation @ synagogue, Colleyville, Jan'22

[Luwin]

A British man who took four people hostage at a synagogue in Texas had been investigated by MI5.

Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn in Lancashire, was the subject of an investigation in late 2020 but by the time he flew to the US he was assessed to be no longer a risk.

The four people held hostage at the synagogue in Colleyville near Dallas were eventually freed unharmed, after a 10-hour siege.

Akram, 44, was shot dead by police.

He had been on the British security service's watchlist as a "subject of interest" in 2020 and was investigated in the second half of that year.
Texas synagogue hostage-taker was known to MI5

 

[dotr]

Synagogues told 'be vigilant' after Texas hostage siege; Toronto police boost patrols | CP24.com
Jan 17 2022 rbbm.
''OTTAWA - Jewish community leaders have advised Canadian synagogues to increase their level of vigilance in case of a copycat attack following a hostage taking at a Texas synagogue this weekend.''

“We take seriously the possibility of copycat acts of violence,” said Michael Mostyn, chief executive officer of B'nai Brith Canada, adding that Jewish Canadians face disproportionately high rates of hate crimes''

''A report by the Toronto police's hate crime unit found that in 2020 Jews were the most targeted group, ahead of Black, LGBTQ and Chinese Canadian communities.

In 2019, Jews were the victims of nearly half of police-reported hate crimes motivated by religion, more than any other religious group, according to Statistics Canada.''

 

[Luwin]

Two teenagers arrested in England as part of the investigation into a hostage-taking at a synagogue in Texas have been released without charge, police say.

They were arrested in south Manchester on Sunday evening.

Greater Manchester Police said officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North West had been "in constant contact with US authorities" to help with their investigation.

An address in north Manchester has been searched as part of their enquiries, the police force said.

Texas synagogue siege: Teens held in UK released without charge

 

[dotr]

So the perp was no Einstein, imo.
rbbm.
Texas synagogue gunman was probed by UK’s MI5 in 2020 as possible terror threat

Congregation Beth Israel hostage taker, identified as 44-year-old British national

Jewish leaders renew antisemitism fight after hostage case
''Although the FBI initially said the man who held four people hostage at a Texas synagogue was focused on an issue “not specifically related to the Jewish community,” the captor voiced beliefs that Jews controlled the world and had the power to arrange the release of a prisoner, survivors said after their escape.

The gunman’s words were all too familiar to Jewish leaders and terror experts, who saw the attack on Congregation Beth Israel as yet another in the rising number of antisemitic hate crimes, a sign of the continued need of vigilance and interfaith solidarity.

The hostage-taker — identified by authorities as Malik Faisal Akram — “thought he could come into a synagogue, and we could get on the phone with the ‘Chief Rabbi of America’ and he would get what he needed,” Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker told the Forward, a Jewish news site.''

 

[whitelilac]

Texas synagogue: Brother urged Texas hostage-taker to surrender

The British gunman who held four people hostage in a Texas synagogue was urged to surrender by his brother in their final phone call, it has emerged.

It (Phone recording) reveals the efforts made by Akram's family to get him to surrender - as well as Akram's deteriorating mental state and the increasing tension inside the synagogue.

In the clip, his brother Gulbar tries repeatedly to talk him into surrendering, telling him that his hostages are innocent people and asking him to think about his children.

But the gunman tells his brother he has set his heart on dying and he wanted to "go down as a martyr".

"I've only been here two weeks and I've got them all at gunpoint," he says, later adding: "I'm coming back home in a body bag."

Texas synagogue: Brother urged Texas hostage-taker to surrender

 

[GoneGoldfishin']

UK terror police arrest two more people in Texas synagogue hostage probe

 

[dotr]

UK terror police arrest two more people in Texas synagogue hostage probe

Thanks, from link..
rbbm,
''Mendoza also pointed to radicalization in Muslim communities in the U.K., particularly in Blackburn, an industrial town in Lancashire, England, where Akram’s Pakistani parents raised their six sons. ''

''Investigators continue to determine how Akram – who had a criminal record stretching back decades, including theft and harassment convictions, and who was on the U.K.’s terror watch list for his extreme beliefs – managed to travel to the U.S., reportedly landing at New York’s JFK airport late last year.

Akram stayed at Dallas-area homeless shelters in the days before the hostage incident, and one pastor told media outlets he handed over video and photos to the FBI after witnessing Akram "dropped off" at one facility by a man who hugged him and appeared to know him. ''

 

[Luwin]

Two men have been arrested as part of an investigation into an attack on a Texas synagogue which saw a gunman take four people hostage.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn in Lancashire, was shot dead by the FBI after a 10-hour standoff in the US on 15 January.

Greater Manchester Police said two men were arrested in Manchester earlier.

Two other men arrested in Birmingham and Manchester on 20 January have been released with no further action.

Texas synagogue siege: Two men arrested in Manchester

 

[PrairieWind]

Thanks, from link..
rbbm,
''Mendoza also pointed to radicalization in Muslim communities in the U.K., particularly in Blackburn, an industrial town in Lancashire, England, where Akram’s Pakistani parents raised their six sons. ''

''Investigators continue to determine how Akram – who had a criminal record stretching back decades, including theft and harassment convictions, and who was on the U.K.’s terror watch list for his extreme beliefs – managed to travel to the U.S., reportedly landing at New York’s JFK airport late last year.

Akram stayed at Dallas-area homeless shelters in the days before the hostage incident, and one pastor told media outlets he handed over video and photos to the FBI after witnessing Akram "dropped off" at one facility by a man who hugged him and appeared to know him. ''

This is a very good question that needs to be answered by someone. How did a man on the UK terror watch list, be allowed to board a plane and fly to the US?

 

[GoneGoldfishin']

Texas synagogue attacker's gun purchase prompts federal charges against seller, authorities say
"After viewing a photo of Mr. Akram, Mr. Williams confirmed he sold Mr. Akram the handgun at an intersection in South Dallas," Meacham’s office said. "Analysis of both men’s cellphone records showed that the two phones were in close proximity on Jan. 13."
According to the complaint, Akram told Williams he wanted the firearm for the "intimidation" of someone who owned him money. Instead, Akram allegedly used it in what the FBI is describing as both an act of terror and a hate crime.

 

[Luwin]

Texas synagogue siege: Man held in Manchester released without charge

One of two men arrested in Manchester as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue siege has been released without charge, police have said.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn in Lancashire, was shot dead after a standoff with police on 15 January.

The siege at the synagogue in Colleyville near Dallas ended after 10 hours, with all four hostages unharmed.

Another man arrested on Tuesday remains in custody for questioning, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

 

[Gardenista]

DHS warns of copycat attacks after hostage standoff in Texas synagogue