Manchester teens arrested in connection with Texas synagogue siege

[ad_1]

Two teenagers have been arrested in Manchester after a British man traveled to the United States, bought a gun and took people hostage during a 10-hour standoff at a Texas synagogue.

Malik Faisal Akram, originally from Blackburn, Lancashire, was shot dead when the FBI entered the Beth Israel complex in Colleville on Saturday night.

US President Joe Biden described the incident as an “act of terrorism” and British police are now working with authorities in America as part of the investigation.

Greater Manchester Police announced Sunday evening that anti-terror police officers in the North West have twice been arrested in South Manchester.

They said the teens, whose age and gender were not immediately confirmed, remained in custody for questioning.

News of the arrests comes hours after the FBI confirmed the identity of the hijacker, 44-year-old Akram, who was killed around 9 pm on Saturday.

The four hostages were released without bodily harm.

Police have arrested two teenagers in Manchester after the shooting of a British hostage-taker after a confrontation at a synagogue in the United States

(AFP)

On Sunday, Secretary of State Liz Truss tweeted: “My thoughts are with the Jewish community and all those affected by the horrific act in Texas. We condemn this act of terrorism and anti-Semitism.”

“We stand with the United States in defending the rights and freedoms of our citizens against those who spread hate.”

Matt Desarno, the FBI’s special agent, said the bureau believed Akram was “singularly focused on one issue” and was “not specifically related to the Jewish community,” adding that it would continue to “work to find [a] defend “.

Akram is said to have demanded the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui.

In 2010, she was convicted in the United States and sentenced to 86 years in prison after being held in Afghanistan two years earlier for attempting to kill a US Army captain.

Siddiqui – currently imprisoned in Fort Worth, Texas – has been charged by the FBI and the US Department of Justice of being an “al-Qaeda agent and facilitator”.

Akram’s brother, Gulbar, said his family was “extremely devastated” by the killing of Akram, who is also known by his middle name Faisal.

“We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologize to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident,” he added.

In a Facebook post, Gulbar said: “Although my brother had mental health issues, we were confident he wouldn’t harm the hostages… Later a gun battle broke out and he was shot and killed… He tells him or that doing so would have persuaded him to surrender.”

He added, “We would also like to add that any attack on any human being, whether Jew, Christian or Muslim is a mistake and should always be condemned. It is absolutely unjustified for a Muslim to attack a Jew, or for any Jew to attack a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, etc.”

Speaking on Sunday, Assistant Police Chief Dominic Scully, speaking for Northwest Counter Terrorism Police, said: “First, our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the horrific events that occurred in Texas on January 15.

We can confirm that the deceased suspect is 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn, Lancashire.

“I can also confirm that counterterrorism in the Northwest is assisting the investigation led by the US authorities.

Police forces in the area will continue to coordinate with their local communities, including the Jewish community, and will take any necessary measures to provide them with reassurance.

“We continue to urge the public to report anything that may be terrorism-related to the police, by calling the counter-terrorism hotline at 0800789321 – your call can save lives.”

[ad_2]