2 teens held in UK over Texas synagogue siege

London, January 17

The police in the UK said on Monday that they were questioning two teenagers as part of an ongoing investigation into the siege at a synagogue in the US state of Texas, which ended in the death of British hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram.

The Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the suspect shot dead by the FBI during the standoff at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville was 44-year-old Akram, originally from the Blackburn area of Lancashire in northwest England.

He was demanding the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Afia Siddiqui, suspected of ties with Al-Qaida and currently serving an 86-year sentence after being convicted of trying to kill US military officers while in custody in Afghanistan.

“We can confirm that the suspect, who is deceased, is 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, originally from the Blackburn area of Lancashire,” said Assistant Chief Constable Dominic Scally for England’s Counter Terror Policing North West.

“I can also confirm that Counter Terror Policing North West is assisting with the investigation being led by the US authorities. Police forces in the region will continue to liaise with their local communities, including the Jewish community, and will put in place any necessary measures to provide reassurance to them,” he said. — PTI

‘Antisemitic act of terrorism’

An incident in which a British man took four persons hostage at a synagogue in Texas was an antisemitic act of terrorism, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said on Monday. “This was a terrible and antisemitic act of terrorism,” the spokesman said. “The PM’s thoughts are with the Jewish community both in Texas and around the world,” he added. Reuters