The hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas has finally ended Saturday evening.
After being held for hours inside the synagogue in the state of Texas, all the hostages were rescued on Saturday night, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
This comes nearly 12 hours after the standoff had begun.
“Prayers answered. All hostages are out alive and safe,” Governor Abbott tweeted at 10:33PM.
“The SWAT situation in Colleyville is resolved and all hostages are safe. We continue to work in partnership with the FBI to finalize all details,” the Colleyville Police said in a tweet at 9:55pm.
The details of the rescue were not released immediately. It is also unclear whether the suspect was dead or alive.
The Colleyville Police Department’s SWAT team responded to the area before 11 a.m. Saturday and evacuated residents in the immediate area.
An armed suspect claiming to have bombs in unknown locations took a rabbi and three others hostage at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, ABC News reported quoting a source familiar with the situation as saying.
Shortly after 5 pm on Saturday, one hostage was released uninjured, said the Colleyville Police Department. As the man did not require medical attention, he was expected to be reunited with his family.
Earlier, the Colleyville Police Department said there were others inside the synagogue but not injuries.
“We do believe with our engagement with the subject that he was singularly focused on one issue and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community,” officials said in a press conference Saturday night, adding that they are continuing work to find a motive.
One of the founders of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville said she was “heartbroken and fearful” over the hostage situation that arose Saturday.
“In my small synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and a few members of Congregation Beth Israel are being held hostage by a man who is armed with a gun and claims to have a bomb,” Anna Salton Eisen posted on Facebook. “Please keep us in your prayers. I started this synagogue with two other families and am heartbroken and fearful. What has become of the world?”
The man claims to be the brother of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, but authorities have not yet confirmed his identity.
The hostage-taker was demanding the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, ABC News reported quoting multiple law enforcement sources as saying.
Siddiqui is incarcerated at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, the news agency reported quoting to the source. She had alleged ties to al-Qaida and was convicted of assault and attempted murder of a U.S. soldier in 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison.
Dramatic footage revealed the moment two hostages ran out of the temple. The suspect can be seen popping out of the door as he chases after them with a gun, but he quickly retreats back inside, closing the door after spotting the nearby SWAT team.
President Biden also released a statement:
“Thanks to the courageous work of state, local and federal law enforcement, four Americans who were held hostage at a Texas synagogue will soon be home with their families. I am grateful to the tireless work of law enforcement at all levels who acted cooperatively and fearlessly to rescue the hostages. We are sending love and strength to the members of Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, and the Jewish community.
There is more we will learn in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage-taker. But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hate—we will stand against anti-Semitism and against the rise of extremism in this country. That is who we are, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement made us all proud.”
The Colleyville Police Department’s SWAT team responded to the area before 11 a.m. Saturday and evacuated residents in the immediate area.
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