UPDATE: Texas synagogue standoff: All hostages released, hostage-taker dead, officials confirm
that the man had demanded earlier in the day to see his “sister,” identified later as Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida.
Authorities have not yet determined if the hostage-taker was actually a blood relative of Siddiqui’s but did confirm that she is in federal custody for “terroristic events” in Afghanistan,“The man claims he and his sister will be going to Jannah after he sees her,” the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement issued earlier Saturday.reporter in a text that the hostage-taker is dead.
According to the newspaper, a loud bang followed by what sounded like gunfire was heard at around 9:12 p.m. local time. Shortly after, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that the remaining hostages had been released and were safe. Authorities said that a man, who has not been publicly identified, had held people captive as he demanded the release ofUpdate 10:45 p.m. EST Jan. 15just after 10:30 p.m. EST Saturday that the remaining three hostages have been released from Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, after being held captive for nearly 12 hours.Update 7:50 p.m. EST Jan. 15just before 8 p.m. Saturday that one hostage has been released unharmed from Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. Three hostages remain inside.
BREAKING: Police say one hostage has been released uninjured from a Dallas-area synagogue where a man had been holding four people.
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