The American authorities opened, Sunday, January 16, an investigation “international in scope” about the man of British nationality who died the day before, after he took several people hostage for ten hours in a synagogue in Texas. United States President Joe Biden has denounced a “Act of terrorism”. The FBI identified the kidnapper as a 44-year-old British national named Malik Faisal Akram.
Mr Biden appeared to confirm reports that the suspect had sought the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist sentenced in 2010 by a federal court in New York to eighty-six years in prison for attempting to shoot people. US military while she was detained in Afghanistan. She is currently being held in a prison hospital in Fort Worth, near Dallas. Jihadist movements have in the past called for his release. “It was related to someone” Who “has been in prison for ten years”, he said, without giving further details. “It was an act of terrorism”, Biden claimed, saying the hostage taker apparently got his guns ” in the street “. He also revealed that he does not hold “apparently no bombs” contrary to what he had claimed during the events.
“At this stage, there is no indication of the involvement of another person”, US federal police said in a statement, adding only that investigators were continuing to investigate. “analyze the evidence in the synagogue” and that investigations were continuing. The United Kingdom assured, through the voice of its ambassador in Washington, Karen Pierce, on Twitter, “provide full support to Texas and US law enforcement”.
On Sunday, the head of British diplomacy, Liz Truss, condemned a “act of terrorism and anti-Semitism”. “My thoughts are with the Jewish community and all those affected by this appalling act in Texas, she said on Twitter. We stand with the United States to defend the rights and freedoms of our citizens against those who spread hatred. » Scotland Yard has confirmed that officers from the British Counter Terrorism Police “were in contact with the American authorities and [le] FBI » regarding the taking of hostages.
Joe Biden pledges to “fight anti-Semitism and the rise of extremism”
Malik Faisal Akram died after the hostage crisis ended with a police intervention, loud bangs and gunshots at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, a town of about 23,000 inhabitants located about forty kilometers from Dallas. And by the death of the suspect, without it being known if he committed suicide or if he was shot dead by the police.
The four hostages, including respected local rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, were released unharmed on Saturday evening, prompting relief in the United States, with renewed calls to fight anti-Semitism, and in Israel, where the tragedy was followed closely.
“We will investigate the hostage taker and his contacts”, during an investigation “international in scope”, said on the night of Saturday to Sunday Matthew DeSarno, special agent of the FBI of Dallas. He did not expand on the suspect’s motives, explaining only that, in view of the long and tense negotiations with the police, he did not seem to want to specifically threaten the Jewish community.
The President of the United States nevertheless committed in a press release to “Combat anti-Semitism and the rise of extremism in the country”. “This event is a stark reminder that anti-Semitism is still alive and that we must continue to fight it around the world”tweeted Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.