COLLEYVILLE, Texas (AP) — A rabbi who was among four people held hostage at a Texas synagogue said Sunday that the British man who held them captive became “increasingly belligerent and threatening” toward the end of the 10-hour standoff.
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Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel, near Fort Worth, credited security training that his congregation has received over the years for helping him and the other hostages get through the situation. He said in a statement that without that instruction, “we would not have been prepared to act and flee when the situation presented itself.”
Authorities on Sunday identified the hostage-taker as a 44-year-old British national, Malik Faisal Akram. He was killed after the last three hostages ran from the building and an FBI SWAT team stormed it at around 9 p.m. Saturday. Authorities haven’t said whether Akram was killed by a member of the team.
The FBI said there was no indication that anyone else was involved, but it didn’t provide a possible motive.
I live 30 minutes from this temple. Although I’m frum, nonetheless they were fellow Yidden in mortal danger. Several neighbors came to my home during Shabbos to let me know what was going on. To say I was distracted is an understatement!
Interesting that AP used the term “British man.” Has it been a white guy or a Jew they would have been quick to use white and Jew in their reporting.
Glad to see that the anti terrorism funding and training has paid off.
The terrorist obviously wasn’t targeting Jews. Just by sheer luck he happened to find his way through a maze of several large Cristchan churches of various denominations within spitting distance of the Temple with the 6 pointed star.
This would never have lasted 12 hours at our shul. We have any number of trained armed volunteer members inside and armed security guard & off duty police outside. And had this animal made it inside he would have been neutralized within the first hour. B”H we have a Rav who loves Israel & believes in tactical practiced security. The words of the Tzaddik Ha Gaon HaRav Meir Kahane Z”TL ring as true today as they did when the Rav spoke them. MAy his memory be a blessing to all.
“NEVER AGAIN”
This wink rabbi is a fool a former member left because of his anti Isreal and pro Palestinian stance. When members wanted to come armed he refused. So he brought this on himself and couldn’t even call him a moslem terrorist
Thank g- d for the fbi taking this animal out
Let’s all hope thos rabbi sees the yad hashem and this is an awakening that he do teshuva
The Reform “Temple” is no Shul.
The Reform “Rabbi” who approves and promotes deviations from the Torah is no Rabbi.
Reform Judaism is not authentic Judaism.
Unfortunately they are a lost, breakaway, heretical sect.
SHmu
Sure it wasn’t an anti semitic attack! The only thing Jewish about the place is the name of the temple! Rabbi is no Rabbi. Synagogue is no synogogue. They are mechalelai Shabbos and self hating Jews! Call that Jewish? No connection!
FBI has a point. The reform ate not Jewish so it’s not like this Arab attacked Jews.
This happy smiling, so called Rabbi is a self loathing cholera of the worst kind !!!