Hostages released from Texas synagogue | Globalism
2 min read
The first hostage was released late on Saturday night (15).
According to the statement posted on the official Colleyville Police website, “The SWAT situation in Colleyville and all hostages has been safely resolved. We continue to work in partnership with the FBI to finalize all details.”
“Prayers answered. All hostages alive and safe,” Governor Greg Abbott wrote on Twitter.
Suspect demands freedom for Pakistani women
A live broadcast from the worshipers’ Facebook page during the Saturday morning service picked up the sound of a man screaming but did not show the interior of the religious center. The broadcast started at 10 AM local time and ended before 2 PM.
In the video, the suspect could be heard asking to speak on the phone with his sister, referring to my friend, but his identity has not been confirmed by authorities. Other experts noted, however, that the word man expresses in Arabic can be used figuratively and means “sister” of the Islamic faith.
According to ABC, the man demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani dubbed “The Lady of Al Qaeda” by American newspapers.
A New York court sentenced her in 2010 to 86 years in prison for attempting to kill US officials in Afghanistan. The high-profile case has sparked outrage in Pakistan.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the “current hostage situation” in Texas, according to White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki. “He will continue to receive updates from his team,” he wrote on Twitter.
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