Start of ordeal unfolds on Beth Israel Shabbat service livestream; suspect demands release of ‘Lady al-Qaeda’ jailed for plot to kill US soldiers; 1 hostage released after 6 hours
Police and federal authorities in Texas responded Saturday to a hostage situation during morning services at a Reform synagogue in Colleyville, Texas.
At least four people were taken hostage at Congregation Beth Israel, including the rabbi of the synagogue, two sources at the scene confirmed to The Times of Israel. One of the hostages was released unharmed after six hours, the Colleyville Police Department said.
While the suspect was believed to be armed, law enforcement was unable to confirm this, and there were no reports of injuries.
The first several hours of the hostage situation unfolded on a Facebook livestream video, which Beth Israel had been using to broadcast its weekly Saturday morning services.
The suspect could be heard referencing Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national known as the “Lady al-Qaeda.” Siddiqui was convicted in 2010 by a New York City federal court of attempting to kill US military personnel. She is currently serving an 86-year sentence at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, Texas, some 15 miles southwest of Colleyville.
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