Update [11:40 p.m. EST, 1/15/22]: According to authorities at a press conference, the gunman is deceased.
The subject, whom investigators believe was “singularly focused on one issue” that was “not specifically related to the Jewish community,” is now deceased, an official said at the press conference. The subject’s identity will not be released as his motive continues to be investigated, officials said.
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Earlier on Saturday, RedState brought you the breaking story on a hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas, near Fort Worth, in which a man claiming to be related to a convicted terrorist took four people hostage at a synagogue.
In one update to the story, my colleague Nick Arama shared that one hostage had been released during negotiations with the man, who was believed to be armed. We also reported that in an update by ABC News correspondent Aaron Katersky,.an attorney for a brother of Aafia Siddiqui denied that he was the individual in Colleyville alleged to be the man.
Now, in a positive update from Republican Governor Greg Abbott, the situation has ended — with no injuries or deaths among the hostages, Fox News reports.
BREAKING: All hostages at Texas synagogue 'out alive and safe' after hours-long standoff, Gov. Greg Abbott said https://t.co/8JeuUHKubN
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 16, 2022
Three remaining hostages at a Texas synagogue were “out alive and safe,” ending an ordeal that began hours earlier, according to a Twitter message late Saturday from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Prayers answered.
All hostages are out alive and safe.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 16, 2022
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, here are more details on what went down:
UPDATE: Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted about 9:35 p.m. Saturday that all hostages are safe and out of a Colleyville synagogue after a loud bang and gunfire were heard. https://t.co/KdVQNmsaHx
— Fort Worth Star-Telegram (@startelegram) January 16, 2022
As this is a breaking story, RedState will provide further updates as they become available.
Editor’s note [12:58 p.m. EST, 1/16/21]: The hostage taker has been identified by the FBI, in a statement released this morning. Despite his claims that he is the brother of Aafia Siddiqui, he is actually a 44-year-old British national named Malik Faisal Akram.
BREAKING: Texas synagogue hostage-taker identified as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram pic.twitter.com/zh2VycZpji
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 16, 2022
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