The US Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI) has identified the suspect who took the child hostage at a jewish synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, as Malik Faisal Akram, 44 years old. The suspect was killed after the authorities safely rescued the four hostages.
Gulbar - the brother of Malik Faisal Akram - posted on Facebook saying that the suspect had a mental illness and was from the industrial town of Blackburn, northern England. The Gulbar family sat all night at Blackburn Police Station to "contact with Faisal, negotiators, FBI..." but could not convince Gulbar to surrender.
Mr. Gulbar said the FBI will fly to the UK to investigate the information. According to the suspect's brother, the act of holding the hostage is unforgivable, and at the same time, he sincerely apologized to all the victims involved in this unfortunate incident.
Previously, US President Joe Biden said on January 16 that the hostage arrest in Colleyville, Texas, "is a terrible act".
The president said: "I do not know all the information, nor is the Attorney General, but the defendant affirmed that he bought weapons on the street. He bought them when he landed and as far as we knew, there were no bombs... It is clear that he had stayed in a place for the homeless on the first night. I don't have all the information yet so I don't want to say more details."
On January 15, the gunman disrupted a Sabbath ceremony and took a jewish teacher and three other hostages. That same night, a FBI hostage rescue team raided a Beth Israel jewish parish in Colleyville, Texas, ending a 10-hour battle between police and gunmen.
One hostage was released without incident after 6 hours while the remaining 3 were later rescued safely by the FBI.
The prompt response response team (SWAT) from the Colleyville Police Department was also mobilized to the scene. The entire incident was broadcast live on Facebook.
While the hostage situation in Texas appears to be a isolated incident, jewish parishes in New York and elsewhere across the US have increased security to prevent government officials from condemning anti-Jewish activities.
What happened at Beth Israel is a reminder that we must speak up and fight against Buddhism and hate everywhere it is located, said US Vice President Kamala Harris. Everyone has the right to pray, work, study and spend time with their loved ones.
