In the US city of Colleyville, the police stormed a synagogue and freed the hostages. A hostage-taker had wanted to free an imprisoned Pakistani woman.
Update from Sunday, January 16th, 2022, 6.45 a.m .: The police ended the hostage-taking in a synagogue in the US state of Texas with a rescue operation. All of the hostages in the small town of Colleyville near Dallas are “alive and safe,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Saturday (local time) on Twitter. The first of the four hostages had already been released in advance. According to the police, the hostage-taker, who apparently wanted to free a convicted terrorist, died during the operation.
The rescue operation in the synagogue began about ten hours after the hostage-taking began. “The hostage rescue team stormed the synagogue,” Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said at a news conference. “The suspect died.” Journalists reported a loud explosion and gunfire in the synagogue just before Abbott announced the release of the hostages.
Hostage-taking in the USA: Hostage-taker wanted to free Pakistani scientist
According to ABC, the kidnapper demanded the release of his “sister,” Pakistani scientist Aafia Siddiqui, who was sentenced to 86 years in prison by a New York court in 2010 on terrorism charges. Some experts expressed the assessment that her designation as “sister” meant figuratively as a sister in the Islamic faith.
Siddiqui had been convicted of attempted assassination by US forces in Afghanistan. US tabloid media gave her the nickname “Lady Qaeda” in reference to the Al Qaeda terrorist network. The case had caused outrage in Pakistan. Siddiqui is incarcerated in Texas.
USA: Man takes hostages in synagogue – bomb threat for unknown locations
First report: Colleyville – According to media reports, an armed kidnapper is holding several people in a synagogue in the US state of Texas. A police officer told CNN that at least four people were believed to be hostages from the Beth Israel community in Colleyville.
Police are asking people to avoid the area around the Colleyville synagogue. Among other things, the FBI is in action. “The FBI negotiators are the ones who have contact with the person in the building,” a police spokeswoman said, according to CNN. There is currently no danger for people outside the place of worship.
Hostage-taking in a synagogue in the USA: Perpetrator threatens with bombs
The Colleyville Police Department tweeted: “We are currently conducting SWAT operations (…). All residents in the immediate area are being evacuated. Please avoid the area.” According to ABC News, the kidnapper allegedly planted bombs at unknown locations.
UPDATED INFO: One suspect has taken the Rabbi and 3 others hostage at a synagogue in Colleyville, TX. The hostage-taker is claiming to be armed and says his sister is Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted in New York of trying to kill US military personnel. @AaronKatersky @ABC
— Erielle Reshef (@ErielleReshef) January 15, 2022
A US official told the broadcaster that the kidnapper said he was the brother of a convicted Pakistani terrorist. The suspect called for the sister’s release, the official said. However, the identity of the perpetrator has not yet been determined.
AFP news agency reports that during a live broadcast of the congregation’s morning prayers, a man’s voice was heard asking to call his sister. He was also heard saying, “I’m going to die,” and “There’s something wrong with America,” according to the agency. (tvd)
