UPDATED: Hostage Situation at Synagogue in Texas, Suspect Alleged Brother of Terrorist

Nick Arama Follow @nickaramaOG

Jan 15, 2022 4:25 PM 4:25 PM on January 15, 2022

Update [7:22 p.m. EST, 1/15/22]: While the man claimed that Siddiqui was his sister, the attorney for her brother is denying that he is involved, ABC News’ Aaron Katersky is reporting.

An attorney who represents the actual brother of Aafia Siddiqui told ABC News his client has been fielding calls from law enforcement and assuring them he is not involved in the hostage taking and has been trying to free his sister through peaceful means

— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) January 15, 2022

Update [7:38 p.m. EST]:

A male hostage just released, uninjured. He is now safe with family, according to Fox News. It sounds like law enforcement is having successful negotiations.

The local police department has issued this statement:

Updated statement on #Colleyville incident. pic.twitter.com/ZgYzZhFk11

— Colleyville Police (@ColleyvillePD) January 16, 2022

There are still no reported injures in the ongoing incident.

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 was 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

There’s a hostage situation happening at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, that may be terrorist-related. Colleyville is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Hostage taker is Muhammad Siddiqui and claims to be Aafia Siddiqui’s brother. He is demanding her freedom from an 86-year prison sentencehttps://t.co/GpWtTQ7kOD.

— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) January 15, 2022

Reports are that there are four hostages inside the synagogue, including the rabbi and three others. The suspect is believed to be armed. He also claims to have bombs cached in unknown locations. Part of the incident was caught on a live stream from the temple. The FBI and the Colleyville SWAT team have responded around midday.

While some networks are holding off on releasing the suspect’s name, ABC has identified him as Muhammad Siddiqui. The suspect’s sister is a known terrorist, Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted in New York of trying to kill US military personnel. She is incarcerated at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, and he reportedly is demanding that she be freed. Authorities are allegedly talking with him now to see if they can resolve the situation.

CAIR has hosted many rallies to free Aafia Siddiqui aka Lady Al-Qaeda, whose supposed brother is holding a synagogue hostage in Colleyville, TX pic.twitter.com/KGWyW4D3oN

— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) January 15, 2022

Local residents in the area around the synagogue have been evacuated.

As this is a breaking story, RedState will provide further updates as they become available.