Chicago: Muslim community leaders in Texas and activists around the US expressed support for members of a synagogue in Colleyville that was attacked on Saturday, triggering a 10-hour hostage crisis.
A SWAT team broke into the Congregational Beth Israel synagogue in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, at around 9:30 pm and freed all the hostages.
Police said without releasing details that no members of the synagogue were injured, but the gunman was killed. The rabbi, Charlie Citron-Walker, was said to be one of the four hostages.
The FBI has identified the gunman killed on Sunday as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram.
Imams from nearby mosques responded quickly with statements of support and prayer for the security of the synagogue gathering and condemnation of the violence.
Jawed Alam, the imam of the Islamic Center in Southlake, said of the hostage crisis, “We are shocked and horrified by what is happening at the Colville Synagogue.” “They are going through a terrible ordeal and we stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters. Our condolences and prayers are with them and we condemn these heinous acts. We will provide our support and hope that this situation comes to a safe resolution as soon as possible. Amin.”
Osama Jamal, secretary general of the US Council of Muslim Organizations, said Muslims across America stand in solidarity with “Colville and the wider American Jewish community” and are “relieved” over their safe release.
“This heinous attack on a synagogue, a holy and sacred place of worship – and its synagogues in an act of prayer – is completely unacceptable. Whoever the attacker may be and whatever his claim, there can be no excuse for this heinous crime. We praise God for the return of our loved ones,” Jamal said.
Police issued an update on Twitter when the hostage situation remained in place until Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Colville Police Spokesperson Sgt. Dara Nelson Said Called 911 Just Before 11 A.M.
“Officers arrived at the scene and saw an emergency situation that required the evacuation of surrounding areas and an outer perimeter was established,” Nelson said. “The Collieville Police Department is on the scene with the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the North Tarrant Regional SWAT Team and other neighboring agencies.”
Nelson said a gunman had taken several people hostage inside the synagogue and that at 5 p.m. the suspect freed a hostage. Nelson said FBI crisis negotiators were in contact with the suspect.
The SWAT team entered the synagogue and freed all the hostages and the suspect was killed.
US President Joe Biden issued a statement shortly after the hostages were released late Saturday.
“Thanks to the daring work of state, local and federal law enforcement, four Americans held hostage in a Texas synagogue will soon be home with their families. I am grateful for the tireless work of law enforcement at all levels that has helped rescue the hostages. We are sending love and strength to congregation members Beth Israel, Colville and the Jewish community,” he said.
“We will learn more about the hostage taker’s motive in the coming days. But for anyone who wants to spread hatred, let me make it clear that we will stand against the rise of anti-Semitism and extremism in this country. We are who we are, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement have made us all proud.
On Sunday, Biden said the hostage taker had taken his weapons off the road.
The hostage incident in Collieville, Texas, was “an act of terror; it was an act of terror,” said Biden, who was in Philadelphia with First Lady Jill Biden.
Pro-Palestinian activists also issued statements against the violence, including the Jewish Voice for Peace. It said: “We are grateful to GD that the churches of Rabbi Citron-Walker and Beth Israel in Collieville, Texas, are free and safe. We send love to our fellow Jews everywhere who are breathing a little easier, and are re-committed to the fight against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. ,
The UK Foreign Office confirmed the death of a British man in Texas when asked to respond to a Sky News report that the gunman was a British national. The Foreign Office did not explicitly say that the dead Briton was the gunman.
British Foreign Minister Liz Truss on Sunday condemned the gunman’s action, calling it terrorism and anti-Semitic action.
“My thoughts are with the Jewish community and all those affected by the terrible act in Texas. We condemn this act of terrorism and anti-Semitism,” she wrote on Twitter.
“We stand with America in defending the rights and liberties of our citizens against haters.”
The attack came as the US prepared to celebrate racial and religious tolerance on Monday, which would have been the 93rd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis by a white separatist, James Earl Ray, and escaped a felony.