Texas Synagogue Attacked By Armed Man

Malik Faisal Akram, 44. On Sunday, he was the man who took four people, including a Rabbi, hostage at a worship service in the Beth Israel congregation on Saturday morning. The Reform Synagogue is located in Colleyville, a city of about 26,000 people, 15 miles northeast of Fort Worth, Texas. The service was broadcast live, and on the stream Mr. Akram was heard screaming about dying and demanding to have a wife; he kept saying he wanted his sister over the phone. Areas in the immediate vicinity were evacuated and residents were told to stay home and not go near the synagogue. During the day, F.B.I., along with about 200 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers have gathered at the synagogue. According to police, a male hostage was released around 5 pm, and he was unharmed. Around 9:30 pm, one of the rabbis, Charlie Cytron Walker, attacked the shooter with a chair, allowing him and all other hostages to escape. No one was injured, as police quickly intervened and killed the shooter. Officials spoke with Akram all day, for he sought the release of his unrelated sister, who is currently imprisoned on suspicion of terrorism.