The family of a 44-year-old British Muslim man who was shot dead by police in Texas after launching a terror attack on a synagogue last ni...
The family of a 44-year-old British Muslim man who was shot dead by police in Texas after launching a terror attack on a synagogue last night demanded to know how he was allowed into America despite a long criminal record.
Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn, died in a hail of bullets after a 10-hour stand-off on Saturday in which four people were held hostage at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, 27 miles from Dallas.
Akram had apparently flown to America two weeks ago, lived in homeless shelters and bought a gun on the street, according to US President Joe Biden.
He was described by his family as suffering 'mental health issues' but concerns over a wider plot grew last night as two teenagers were arrested over the incident by anti-terror officers in south Manchester.
The pair, both believed to be under 18, cannot be identified for legal reasons. They were still in custody overnight, Greater Manchester Police said.
However the FBI's field office in Dallas had earlier said there was 'no indication' that anyone else was involved in what President Biden called 'an act of terror'.
Malik's brother Gulbar issued a statement on behalf of the family last night in which he told of their 'devastation' and revealed how relatives had been in contact with Malik during his attack at the police's request but could not convince him to surrender.
But speaking to Sky News he also demanded to know how the incident had been allowed to unfold. 'He's known to police. Got a criminal record. How was he allowed to get a visa and acquire a gun?', he said.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, (pictured) was shot dead by the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team after holding four hostages for more than 10 hours at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday
A post shared on social media asked for forgiveness for British terrorist Faisal Akram, 44, who was shot dead by an FBI SWAT team after a 10-hour armed stand-off at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas
US President Joe Biden described Akram's actions as an 'act of terror' during a visit to a Philadelphia food bank on Sunday
One of the hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel in, Colleyville, Texas, was released and taken to his family. Authorities have said all hostages are now out and safe after the terrorist was shot
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss took to Twitter to condemn the 'appalling act of terrorism and anti-Semitism in Texas'. Ms Truss added: 'We stand with US in defending the rights and freedoms of our citizens against those who spread hate'
The standoff is taking place at the Congregation Beth Israel, in Colleyville, just 27 miles from Dallas
In his online statement posted hours earlier, Gulbar wrote: 'It is with great, great sadness I will confirm my brother Faisal passed away in Texas, USA this morning.
'We are absolutely devastated as a family. We can't say much now as there is an ongoing FBI investigation.
'We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologize wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident.
'Sitting in the incident room all last night at Greenbank [Police Station in Blackburn] until the early hours liaising with Faisal, the negotiators, FBI etc.
'And although my brother was suffering from mental health issues we were confident that he would not harm the hostages.
'There was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender.
'Obviously our priority will be to get him back to the UK for his funeral prayers although we have been warned it could take weeks.
'We would also like to add that any attack on any human being be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim etc is wrong and should always be condemned.
'It is absolutely inexcusable for a Muslim to attack a Jew or for any Jew to attack a Muslim, Christian, Hindu vice versa etc.'
A later post shared on Facebook by Blackburn Muslim Community pleaded for patience and respect for the family. The statement read: 'Faisal Akram has sadly departed from this temporary world and returned to his Creator.
'May the Almighty forgive all his sins and bless him with the highest ranks of Paradise. May Allah give strength and patience to his loved ones in dealing with their loss.'
It remained unclear this morning why Akram flew to Texas, 4,700 miles away from his Lancashire home, to carry out his attack.
He was shot dead at around 9pm local time (3pm GMT) by the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team after holding four hostages, including the rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker for ten hours.
The incident began when Akram entered the building as it was livestreaming a service, shouting that he had weapons and 'backpacks of explosives' on him.
He demanded the release of jailed female terrorist Aafia Siddiqu - known as Lady Al Qaeda. He referred to her as his 'sister' during the attack but the pair are not related. She is being held in a jail about 20 miles from Colleyville.
From inside the Texas synagogue, the assailant told a SWAT team: 'If anyone tries to enter this building, I'm telling you…everyone will die.'
He could be heard ranting, in what appeared to be a British accent, on the synagogue's Sabbath livestream, before it was cut off at 2pm CST, saying: 'I'm going to die. Don't cry about me'
'Are you listening? I am going to die,' he repeated over and over.
Leaders from the Islamic Center of Southlake, who have worked closely with Rabbi Cytron-Walker to help unite the faithful in the Dallas-Fort Worth area came out to the scene to denounce the attack and pray for their friend.
'We want to see him again as soon as possible,' said Shahzad Mahmud, the former president of the Islamic Center. 'We just want to make sure he goes back to his family,'
One of the hostages was freed early in the incident and the other three fled to safety shortly before it ended.
Dramatic footage revealed the moment two hostages ran out of the temple followed by Akram who chased them with a gun before quickly retreating back inside and closing the door after spotting the nearby SWAT team. Dozens of agents then breach the synagogue as gunshots can be heard.
FBI special agent Matt Desarno said the agency's Hostage Rescue Team, who were flown in from Quantico in Virginia, entered the synagogue at around 9pm local time, freed the hostages and killed the suspect.
'There is no question that this was a traumatic experience,' Cytron-Walker said in a statement last night. 'We are resilient and we will recover.'
Rabbi Cytron-Walker in his statement credited his congregation's previous security training from the FBI and others with their survival from a harrowing ordeal.
Armored vehicles were been seen in the area around the synagogue as the attack unfolded on Saturday
Emergency response vehicles and around 200 local and Federal police attended the site while the four hostages were still inside
The four hostages were held inside the synagogue (pictured in 2020) by British gunman Malik Akram from Blackburn
'In the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening,' the rabbi said.
'Without the instruction we received, we would not have been prepared to act and flee when the situation presented itself.'
During a visit to a Philadelphia food bank, U.S President Joe Biden today described Akram's actions as an 'act of terror', adding that there was not yet sufficient information as to why the gunman had specifically targeted a synagogue.
Biden later added that it is understood that Akram purchased the weapons used during the stand-off 'on the street' and spent his first night in the US 'in a homeless shelter'.
'He purchased them when he landed and it turns out there apparently were no bombs that we know of. ... Apparently he spent the first night in a homeless shelter. I don't have all the details yet so I'm reluctant to go into much more detail,' the President added.
'I don't think there is sufficient information to know about why he targeted that synagogue, why he insisted on the release of someone who's been in prison for over 10 years, why he was engaged, why he was using anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments'.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss took to Twitter to condemn the 'appalling act of terrorism and anti-semitism in Texas'. Ms Truss added: 'We stand with US in defending the rights and freedoms of our citizens against those who spread hate.'
Assistant Chief Constable Dominic Scally, for Counter Terror Policing North West, said they are helping with the investigation being led by authorities in the US.
He said: 'Firstly, our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the terrible events that took place in Texas on 15 January.
'We can confirm that the suspect, who is deceased, is 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, originally from the Blackburn area of Lancashire.
'I can also confirm that Counter Terror Policing North West is assisting with the investigation being led by the US authorities.
'Police forces in the region will continue to liaise with their local communities, including the Jewish community, and will put in place any necessary measures to provide reassurance to them.'
Following the arrests, the force added: 'Two teenagers were detained in South Manchester this evening. They remain in custody.'
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker (right) was one of four being held hostage by Akram, who claimed to be the brother of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui (left) known as Lady Al Qaeda
Armored vehicles were at the scene where the assailant claimed to have bombs as the FBI attempted to diffuse the situation
Law enforcement also gathered at the Colleyville Elementary School to help evacuate local residents
Local and federal authorities worked together and managed to free all four hostages safely
FBI special agent Matthew DeSarno told reporters in Colleyville after the standoff that the investigation would 'have global reach.'
He said the suspect's demands were 'focused on one issue that was not specifically threatening to the Jewish community.'
Britain's ambassador to Washington confirmed that British authorities were 'providing our full support to Texas and US law enforcement agencies.'
The Muslim man can be heard saying the live stream (pictured) that he was 'going to die' repeatedly on a livestream of the incident
Aafia, now 49, was jailed for 86 years after being arrested in Afghanistan in 2008 for the attempted murder of a US army captain.
The Pakistani-born neuroscientist was found with two kilos of poison sodium cyanide and plans for chemical attacks on New York's Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building.
She was handed to the Americans and convicted of attempted murder two years later in a US court.
Her attorney, Marwa Elbially, told CNN that her client has no involvement in the hostage situation.
'She does not want any violence perpetrated against any human being, especially in her name,' Elbially said.
'It obviously has nothing to do with Dr. Siddiqui or her family.'
Jonh Floyd, of the Houston branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also confirmed Aafia's family was not involved in the current hostage situation, and that they condemn the suspect's actions.
'We want the hostage-taker to know that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and her family strongly condemn this act and do not stand by you,' Floyd wrote in a statement directed at the hostage taker.
'We want the assailant to know that his actions are wicked and directly undermine those of us who are seeking justice for Dr. Aafia.'
Aafia's hatred for the US was so strong that during her interrogation after her arrest she grabbed a rifle from one of her guards and shot at them shouting: 'Death to Americans.'
She came to the US in 1991 and won a partial scholarship to MIT, where she was a biology major.
The SWAT team was on standby as the FBI spoke with the suspect and investigated his background
Members of the Islamic Center of Southlake came out to show support for their friend, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who they have worked with for years to help unite the faithful in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, pictured with wife Adena Cytron-Walker, was described as a much-respected figure in the community
The Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Tweeted he was also monitoring the situation as it unfolded on Saturday
Siddiqui was sent by her neurosurgeon father from Pakistan to study in the U.S. on her own and won a partial scholarship to study at the prestigious Cambridge school.
She arrived there in 1991 having been living with her brother in Texas for a year where she studied at the University of Houston and gave regular speeches on Islam.
During one she told the crowd: 'The hijab is not a restriction. It allows a woman to be judged by her content, not by her packaging, by what is written on the pages, not the pretty artwork on the cover'
In 1993, she wanted to do 'something to help our Muslim brothers and sisters' even if it meant breaking the law.
The mother of three was radicalized after the 9/11 terror attacks, divorcing her husband and moving back to Pakistan, where she remarried Ammar Al-Baluchi, the nephew of 9/11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
What happened in Pakistan before her arrest is unclear and even during her U.S. trial judge Richard Berman said he did not know what she was doing.
But even now such is her importance as a symbol of defiance to the West that Islamic State fighters publicly stated they wanted to swap her for James Foley, the American photojournalist they executed earlier this year.
She is serving an 86-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, about 25 miles from the hostage site at the Texas temple.
During her trial, Aafia demanded that every jury member get DNA tested to see if they were Jewish.
'I have a feeling everyone here is them [Jews], subject [them] to genetic testing… They should be excluded if you want to be fair,' she told a federal judge in 2010.
Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform Jewish synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, which has about 70,000 Jewish people, one of the largest communities in the state.
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