Worshippers invited a stranger right into a Texas synagogue when he knocked on their door and provided him tea earlier than he brandished a gun and held them hostage in a 10-hour siege the FBI known as a “terrorism-related matter, in which the Jewish community was targeted.”
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, was among the many 4 congregants taken captive on Saturday – the Jewish sabbath, at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, west of Dallas, Texas.
The rabbi informed CBS on Monday that he and others managed to flee after he threw a chair on the hostage-taker after which rushed for an exit door.
The FBI recognized the person as Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British citizen.
“When I took him in, I stayed with him. Making tea was an opportunity for me to talk to him,” the rabbi stated.
“And in that moment, I didn’t hear anything suspicious. Some of his story didn’t quite add up, so I was a little bit curious, but that’s not necessarily an uncommon thing,” he added.
The rabbi returned to prayer, after which he stated he “heard a click – and it could have been anything – but it turned out it was his gun.”
One hostage was launched unhurt after six hours of tense negotiations aided by the suspect’s household.
The incident led to gunfire with the suspect useless as members of an FBI hostage rescue group raided the synagogue.
It was unclear whether or not the gunman took his personal life or was killed by members of the FBI group.
The FBI stated its Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating the incident. Rabbi Cytron-Walker stated that he drew on hostage coaching from the FBI to find out when to attempt to escape.
“When I saw an opportunity where he wasn’t in a good position, I made sure that the two gentlemen who were still with me, that they were ready to go, (and that) the exit wasn’t too far away,” Cytron-Walker stated.
“I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door, and all three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired.”
Police in England stated they detained two youngsters for questioning in reference to the case.
Hate crimes concentrating on the US Jewish group represent over half of all religion-based crimes nationwide, the Anti-Defamation League stated.
