FBI identifies British national as Texas synagogue hostage-taker

[mystery-ak]

FBI identifies British national as Texas synagogue hostage-taker
By Joseph Choi - 01/16/22 12:52 PM EST

The FBI has identified the gunman who held hostages at a Texas synagogue for over 10 hours as a British national named Malik Faisal Akram.

According to Matthew DeSarno, special agent in charge of the FBI's Dallas Field Office, Akram, 44, appears to be the only one who was involved in the hostage-taking on Saturday at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas.

All the hostages being held in the synagogue were freed on Saturday evening, with no injuries reported. The gunman, now known to be Akram, was killed though authorities have not disclosed the cause of death.

The hostage situation started around 10:30 a.m., with local police, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the North Tarrant Regional SWAT team responding to the scene.

Akram had demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, an American-educated Pakistani neuroscientist who is accused of helping terrorists and is currently imprisoned in Texas for attempting to murder a U.S. soldier.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/589952-fbi-identifies-british-national-as-texas-hostage-taker

[Hoodat]

How long has he been in the US, and how did he get into the country?

[Kamaji]

How long has he been in the US, and how did he get into the country?

Two very important questions and, unless the answers directly implicate President Trump, I do not expect the government to ever answer them truthfully.

[Hoodat]

British national Malik Faisal Akram ID’d as hostage-taker at Texas synagogue

Tucker and Balsamo  |  Jan 16, 2022   01:31 PM EST  |  Updated: Jan 16, 2022  01:31 PM EST

COLLEYVILLE, Texas (AP) — Authorities on Sunday identified a 44-year-old British national as the man who took four people hostage at a Texas synagogue for 10 hours before an FBI SWAT team stormed the building, ending a tense standoff that President Joe Biden called “an act of terror.”

Malik Faisal Akram was shot and killed after the last of the hostages got out at around 9 p.m. Saturday at Congregation Beth Israel near Fort Worth. In a statement, the FBI said there was no indication that anyone else was involved, but it didn’t provide a possible motive.  .  .  .

.  .  .  “Rest assured, we are focused,” Biden said during a visit to a food pantry in Philadelphia on Sunday morning. “The attorney general is focused and making sure that we deal with these kinds of acts.”

Biden said the suspect was able to purchase weapons on the street and may have only been in the country a few weeks. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to questions Sunday about Akram’s immigration status and history.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/british-national-malik-faisal-akram-idd-as-hostage-taker-at-texas-synagogue/


Biden blames Texas gun laws for this "act of terror" while at the same time admitting he doesn't know how or when this 'terrorist' entered the country.

[Hoodat]

Texas synagogue siege: British hostage taker named as Malik Faisal Akram - as family say they are 'devastated'

The 44-year-old was not living in the United States but had recently travelled there before carrying out the attack on the synagogue in Colleyville on Saturday, Sky News understands.

Sunday 16 January 2022 18:27, UK

The British man who was shot dead after taking four people hostage at a Texas synagogue has been named by the FBI as Malik Faisal Akram.

Sky News understands the 44-year-old from Blackburn was not living in the United States but had recently travelled there.

Akram's family say they are "devastated" by his death, adding that they "do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologize wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident".

In a statement, Akram's brother Gulbar said family members spent hours "liasing with Faisal" during the siege, and that although he 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," Gulbar said.  .  .  .

.  .  . 

Biden calls for 'harder focus' on guns

US President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident as it unfolded and has described it as an "act of terror".

He suggested the attacker was able to get a gun from off the street and that the siege represented a "failure to focus as hard as we should on gun sales".  .  .  .

https://news.sky.com/story/texas-synagogue-siege-british-hostage-taker-named-as-malik-faisal-akram-12517905



No, you miserable schmuck.  This is a failure to secure the border.

[rustynail]

Biden blames Texas gun laws for this "act of terror" while at the same time admitting he doesn't know how or when this 'terrorist' entered the country.


FBI false flag set up?

[Kamaji]

He suggested the attacker was able to get a gun from off the street and that the siege represented a "failure to focus as hard as we should on gun sales".

No, that is the result of a failure to focus on getting criminals with guns off the streets, or at the least, getting guns out of the hands of criminals.  There is a very good reason why NYC managed to get its gun violence levels down so far - stop and frisk, which was responsible for getting thousands of guns, guns which could very easily have been sold illegally to a terrorist, off the streets - but of course, liberals cannot countenance such common-sense policing because, well, systemic racism and all that rot.

[Hoodat]

It shouldn't be too difficult for the UK passport office to tell us when Akram left the UK and where he was headed.

[mystery-ak]

Terrorist shot dead after taking hostages at Texas synagogue is named as 44-year-old from Blackburn: Gunman Malik Akram's 'devastated' brother condemns attack and blames 'mental health issues' as Liz Truss slams 'act of anti-Semitism'

    FBI identifies Texas synagogue shooter as 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, who is originally from Blackburn
    His brother, Gulbar, liaised with suspect in FBI incident room, blamed mental health issues for Faisal's actions
    US President Joe Biden condemned Akram's actions as an 'act of terror' during a PR event in Philadelphia
    All four hostages have been released after the terrorist was shot and police stormed the Texas synagogue
    Several gunshots were heard at around 9pm CST after a hostage was released and SWAT team stormed in
    Dramatic footage captured the moment two of three remaining hostages ran out of the temple, with the gun totting terrorist right behind them before he quickly retreated inside after seeing the nearby SWAT team
    A SWAT team had been deployed and the FBI was negotiating with him as the standoff entered hour eleven
    Akram had demanded the release of 'Lady Al Qaeda' Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving 86 years at FMC Carswell, New York for the attempted murder of US military personnel, according to an ABC News report

By Jacob Thorburn and Stephen Wynn-davies For Mailonline and Alyssa Guzman and Ronny Reyes For Dailymail.Com

Published: 13:17 EST, 16 January 2022 | Updated: 13:51 EST, 16 January 2022

The family of the British terrorist who was shot dead after taking four people hostage inside a Texas synagogue have tonight condemned his actions as they admitted to 'liasing' with the shooter during his 10-hour stand-off with police.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, 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.

His 'devastated' brother Gulbar Akram shared a message on social media in which he revealed he had been working with the FBI and 'liasing' with his sibling throughout the stand-off. He also apologised and blamed 'mental health issues' for Malik's actions.

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 their 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 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.

more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10408425/Blackburn-terrorist-Brother-Faisal-Akram-blames-mental-health-struggles-shooters-actions.html

[Kamaji]

It shouldn't be too difficult for the UK passport office to tell us when Akram left the UK and where he was headed.

The bigger question will be, when did he get to Mexico, and when did he waltz across the southern border.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

British national Malik Faisal Akram ID’d as hostage-taker at Texas synagogue

Tucker and Balsamo  |  Jan 16, 2022   01:31 PM EST  |  Updated: Jan 16, 2022  01:31 PM EST

COLLEYVILLE, Texas (AP) — Authorities on Sunday identified a 44-year-old British national as the man who took four people hostage at a Texas synagogue for 10 hours before an FBI SWAT team stormed the building, ending a tense standoff that President Joe Biden called “an act of terror.”

Malik Faisal Akram was shot and killed after the last of the hostages got out at around 9 p.m. Saturday at Congregation Beth Israel near Fort Worth. In a statement, the FBI said there was no indication that anyone else was involved, but it didn’t provide a possible motive.  .  .  .

.  .  .  “Rest assured, we are focused,” Biden said during a visit to a food pantry in Philadelphia on Sunday morning. “The attorney general is focused and making sure that we deal with these kinds of acts.”

Biden said the suspect was able to purchase weapons on the street and may have only been in the country a few weeks. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to questions Sunday about Akram’s immigration status and history.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/british-national-malik-faisal-akram-idd-as-hostage-taker-at-texas-synagogue/


Biden blames Texas gun laws for this "act of terror" while at the same time admitting he doesn't know how or when this 'terrorist' entered the country.

The best measure to mitigate these in the future is to deny them from coming in, stupid.  You should be talking to Homeland Security instead of a worthless AG

[Hoodat]

More clues from Biden:


Texas synagogue siege: hostage-taker named as 44-year-old Briton

A man who died after taking four people hostage at a Texas synagogue has been named by the FBI as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram.

Akram began a standoff  .  .  .

.  .  .  The US president, who was visiting a food bank in Philadelphia, said: “I don’t have all the facts, nor does the attorney general – but allegedly the assertion was he got the weapons on the street.

“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.”  .  .  .

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/16/texas-synagogue-siege-hostage-taker-shot-dead-by-fbi-believed-to-be-british


This would indicate that Akram travelled into the US on a flight and then bought a gun "off the street" (in Texas, where you can practically purchase a gun at a grocery store).

[Elderberry]

More clues from Biden:


Texas synagogue siege: hostage-taker named as 44-year-old Briton

A man who died after taking four people hostage at a Texas synagogue has been named by the FBI as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram.

Akram began a standoff  .  .  .

.  .  .  The US president, who was visiting a food bank in Philadelphia, said: “I don’t have all the facts, nor does the attorney general – but allegedly the assertion was he got the weapons on the street.

“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.”  .  .  .

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/16/texas-synagogue-siege-hostage-taker-shot-dead-by-fbi-believed-to-be-british


This would indicate that Akram travelled into the US on a flight and then bought a gun "off the street" (in Texas, where you can practically purchase a gun at a grocery store).

Grocery stores sell guns? I never knew. Years ago Eckerd Drug Stores sold surplus rifles. And I purchased a rifle at Foleys, and one at Fedmart. Well come to think of it, I think Fedmart also sold groceries. Dang it! You're right after all. OH! I had forgotten about Walmart, who sells groceries, also sells guns.

[Kamaji]

[Hoodat]

You can't make this stuff up.

https://twitter.com/FreeBeacon/status/1482767605240795137

[240B]

The bigger question will be, when did he get to Mexico, and when did he waltz across the southern border.

I am sure he is illegal, but I do not expect them to ever admit it publicly.

[Hoodat]

Texas synagogue siege: Everything we know about the hostage-taker in Colleyville

Io Dodds  |  San Francisco  |  59 minutes ago

How did a British man from Blackburn end up holding four people hostage in a synagogue in Texas? That is the question both UK and US authorities are now trying to answer after the FBI named Malik Faisal Akram as Saturday's hostage-taker.

Akram, 44, held the congregants at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on the outskirts of Fort Worth, for about ten hours on Saturday. A Facebook livestream  .  .  .

.  .  .  According to CBS News, Akram is not a US citizen and arrived in the country about two weeks ago via JFK International Airport in New York City. He has no criminal record in federal courts.

Investigators reportedly assessed the hostage-taker as "emotionally unstable". On the livestream, he sounds highly agitated, sometimes berating the negotiator, repeating himself, and often appearing to lose his composure.

We don’t know much else about Akram’s life, such as what his trade was, whether he was married, or why he flew to the US.  .  .

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/texas-synagogue-suspect-hostage-colleyville-b1994277.html



Unable to locate the CBS story on which this claim is based.

[Hoodat]

Another story from the BBC

Texas synagogue hostage-taker was British

.  .  .  .  What else do we know about the attacker?

In the UK, counter-terrorist police confirmed that Malik Faisal Akram was originally from the Blackburn area of Lancashire.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West said it was assisting with the US-led investigation into the attack.

The dead man's brother Gulbar confirmed his death in a statement carried by Blackburn Muslim Community.

Gulbar said he had liaised "with Faisal, the negotiators, FBI etc" during the siege but "there was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender".

"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," he added.

"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."

According to US police sources, Malik Faisal Akram arrived on US soil approximately two weeks ago via New York's JFK International Airport.

President Biden said the attacker had apparently bought weapons after he landed and had not used bombs.

"Apparently he spent the first night in a homeless shelter," he added. "I don't have all the details yet."

Police are investigating whether or not he had appeared on any terrorist screening database or watch list, and are also assessing his mental health. US federal courts do not show he had any criminal history.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60014006

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Brother of Texas Synagogue Terrorist Reveals Akram had a Criminal Record, Questions Why he was Given a Visa
The brother of Malik Faisal Akram, the UK citizen who was shot and killed after an 11-hour hostage standoff at a synagogue in Texas, has claimed that his brother had a previous criminal record.

Gulbar Akram, the brother of terrorist Malik Faisal Akram, who took four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday, has revealed that his brother had a criminal record in comments to UK media, raising questions about how he was allowed into the United States.
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2022/01/17/brother-of-texas-synagogue-terrorist-reveals-he-had-a-criminal-record/

How long will it be for Biden to shut down this information on how he lets in terrorists?
He would rather concentrate on Republican citizens being in the news as terrorists.

[GtHawk]

I don't know why they won't admit he's a moslem, after all his family already admitted he was mentally ill.

[Kamaji]

Brother of Texas Synagogue Terrorist Reveals Akram had a Criminal Record, Questions Why he was Given a Visa
The brother of Malik Faisal Akram, the UK citizen who was shot and killed after an 11-hour hostage standoff at a synagogue in Texas, has claimed that his brother had a previous criminal record.

Gulbar Akram, the brother of terrorist Malik Faisal Akram, who took four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday, has revealed that his brother had a criminal record in comments to UK media, raising questions about how he was allowed into the United States.
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2022/01/17/brother-of-texas-synagogue-terrorist-reveals-he-had-a-criminal-record/

How long will it be for Biden to shut down this information on how he lets in terrorists?
He would rather concentrate on Republican citizens being in the news as terrorists.

As a UK subject, he probably came in on ESTA - a visitor's visa that doesn't require an actual visa application and, presumably, his criminal record was not so severe that it warranted blocking him from entry at JFK.

[mystery-ak]

How did British terrorist get a visa to enter US? Fury as it's revealed Texas synagogue gunman - with criminal convictions - WAS known to UK intelligence agencies but slipped through Homeland Security cracks

    Malik Faisal Akram, 44, flew into the US on January 2 with a tourist visa
    MI5 in the UK has confirmed he was known to them - but wasn't considered 'immediate risk'
    The FBI has not commented on whether or not he was known to US authorities
    There was silence from DC and the White House on how he by-passed the checks
    Donald Trump Jr. was among those demanding answers on Monday as to how he got into the country
    Stephen Miller, former White House adviser, tweeted that 'every journalist' should be asking the administration how he got into the country

By Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter and Elizabeth Elkind, Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Published: 16:38 EST, 17 January 2022 | Updated: 17:45 EST, 17 January 2022

There is growing outrage and demand for answers as to how the British terrorist gunman who took four hostages at a Texas synagogue on Saturday was even able to enter the US on a tourist visa when he was known to intelligence agencies in the UK.

Malik Faisal Akram, 44, flew to New York City from the UK on January 22, despite being known to MI5.

His family say he had a criminal history but somehow, he was able to get an ESTA tourist visa - which are supposed to be off-limits to foreigners who have broken the law.

Akram spent two weeks at a homeless shelter in Dallas, during which time he was able to buy a gun on the street. 

On Saturday, he arrived at Beth Israel Congregation in the morning and knocked on the window. He was welcomed inside by the rabbi, had a cup of tea with him, and then raided services at 11am while the congregation was praying.

more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10411809/How-did-British-terrorist-gunman-visa-enter-US.html?ito=push-notification&ci=957z4o6llJ&cri=DRvQrSJ9tR&si=11786209&xi=83e9409b-0e88-4f53-9198-a5fd8ca6a112&ai=10411809