| See also the Ft Worth Star-Telegram’s report here, courtesy of Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843. |
[Dallas Morning News] COLLEYVILLE — Authorities were negotiating Saturday afternoon with a man who appeared to have taken hostages inside a synagogue.It’s unclear how many people are inside the building or whether anyone is armed, Colleyville Police Sgt. Dara Nelson said. No injuries have been reported, she said.
Police said on Twitter around 11:30 a.m. that they were "conducting SWAT operations" in the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road, the site of Congregation Beth Israel. The situation was ongoing as of 4:30 p.m.
All residents in the immediate area were being evacuated, and police asked people to avoid the area.
Nelson said negotiators made contact with somebody inside the synagogue who they believe is a suspect. Authorities don’t believe there is a threat to the general public.Nelson said "we know there’s a subject inside and other people inside with him," but stopped short of describing it as a hostage situation.
| Update at 7:35 p.m.: |
The Council on American Islamic Relation further condemned Saturday’s incident. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the organization’s national deputy director, called the situation “an unacceptable act of evil” and said “no cause can justify or excuse this crime.”
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said Dallas police would have additional patrols at synagogues and other sites in the city, adding that officials were working with the Jewish Federation to monitor any threats.
Police in New York and Los Angeles also were increasing patrols at synagogues.
In the past, CAIR has called for Siddiqui’s release, with the executive director of CAIR-Dallas, Faizan Syed, saying in November that her sentence was unjust.
Siddiqui’s lawyer, Marwa Elbially, called her “one of the greatest victims of the so-called ‘war on terror’ kidnapping program that saw hundreds of innocent people kidnapped and held in U.S.-funded detention around the world.”
CAIR issued a statement with an attorney representing Siddiqui’s brother’s that said the person inside the synagogue was not related to Siddiqui and called for him to surrender.
“This assailant has nothing to do with Dr. Aafia, her family or the global campaign to get justice for Dr. Aafia,” John Floyd, the organization’s board chair, said in a written statement. “We want the assailant to know that his actions are wicked and directly undermine those of us who are seeking justice for Dr. Aafia.”
| Other sources updating at 7:35 p.m. ET: CNN is liveblogging here. Latest: |
The FBI interviewed a New York City-based rabbi who spoke to the suspect in the Texas synagogue hostage situation earlier today.
The rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas — who is among the four people being held hostage — called the rabbi in New York City at the request of the hostage taker.
She is a well-known rabbi who has no connection to the hostage taker. According to the official, the hostage taker told the rabbi that Aafia Siddiqui was framed and that they want her released.
| The Post Millennial adds: |
| The Daily Mail is also following the story, and names the brother as Muhammad Siddiqui, who is listed as an architect in Houston. |