TERROR RAID
Two teens arrested by anti-terror cops in Manchester after Brit hostage taker Malik Faisal Akram stormed Texas synagogue
TWO teenagers were arrested in Manchester last night by anti-terror cops investigating a British gunman who took a rabbi and three worshippers hostage in Texas.
Police swooped as part of a joint FBI probe into Malik Faisal Akram, 44, who was shot dead after a 12-hour siege at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue.
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The teenagers were quizzed as security agencies began urgently looking into the background of the gunman, from Blackburn, Lancs.
Last night his own brother said he should not have been allowed to travel to the US as he had a criminal record and suffered mental health problems.
Gulbar Akram also told how he pleaded with Malik to surrender during Saturday's stand-off with negotiators.
He allegedly stormed in during a livestreamed Sabbath service and demanded to speak to a jailed terror mastermind known as Lady Al-Qaeda.
President Joe Biden called it an "act of terrorism" as the FBI vowed their probe would span the globe.
Greater Manchester Police said last night: "As part of the ongoing investigation into the attack that took place at a synagogue in Texas on January 15 2022, officers from Counter Terror Policing North West have made two arrests.
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"Two teenagers were detained in south Manchester this evening. They remain in custody for questioning.
"Counter Terrorism Policing North West continues to assist the investigation being led by the US authorities, and police forces in the region are liaising with local communities to put in place any measures to provide further reassurance."
The suspect - who was shot dead as officers stormed the building - kept members of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville captive for almost 12 hours.
All the hostages were unharmed.
The early stages of the siege were livestreamed on the synagogue's Facebook page, which was broadcasting the day's service when the gunman stormed in.
A man's voice was heard saying "do something" and "I haven't spoken to her," and at times yelling profanities.
He was also allegedly heard saying, "I am going to die. Do not cry for me," local outlet KTVT.
The gunman, who spoke with a British accent, also made mention of having "six beautiful kids" and claimed he had a bomb.
'EXTREME DISTRESS'
Texas resident Victoria Francis told The Associated Press that she watched about an hour of the livestream before it cut out, listening to the man rant against America and claim he had a bomb.
“He was just all over the map. He was pretty irritated and the more irritated he got, he’d make more threats, like ‘I’m the guy with the bomb. If you make a mistake, this is all on you.’ And he’d laugh at that.
“He was clearly in extreme distress.”
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Police were first called to the synagogue at about 11am on January 15.
One hostage who had been held was released during the stand-off and three others got out at about 9pm local time when an FBI Swat team entered the building, authorities said.
Hostage, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, said that the suspect became "increasingly belligerent and threatening" towards the end of the siege.
The FBI confirmed that Akram was killed after loud bangs and gunfire were heard inside the building.
All four hostages were unharmed and were due to be reunited with their family after the incident, he added.
Akram, from Blackburn, Lancashire, arrived to the US about two weeks ago, flying into JFK International Airport in New York, , citing law enforcement officials.
It remains unclear if Akram was on any sort of watch list, the outlet reported.
President Biden said it was not clear why the gunman had specifically targeted a synagogue.
it is understood Akram bought weapons used during the stand-off ";on the street" and spent his first night in the US "in a homeless shelter".
"He purchased them when he landed and it turns out there apparently were no bombs that we know of," Mr Biden said.
"Apparently he spent the first night in a homeless shelter. I don't have all the details yet so I'm reluctant to go into much more detail."
FAMILY'S GRIEF
Akram's brother, Gulbar, condemned the attack in a statement posted on a local Muslim community group's Facebook page.
He wrote: "It is with great great sadness I will confirm my brother Faisal passed away in Texas, USA this morning.
“We are absolutely devastated as a family. We can’t say much now as [there] is an ongoing FBI investigation.
“We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologise wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident."
The statement goes on to say that the suspect "was suffering from mental health issues," but the family was certain he would not harm the hostages.
It added: "We would also like to add that any attack on any human being be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim is wrong and should always be condemned."
HOSTAGE SITUATION
In a press conference on Saturday night, the FBI said that the suspect seemed to be "singularly focused on one issue and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community."
Authorities are still trying to establish the significance of his cries regarding Aafia Siddiqui, also known as Lady Al Qaeda, who is serving an 86-year sentence at a federal prison near Fort Worth.
The Pakistani neuroscientist was one of America's most wanted terrorists after the September 11 attacks.
In 2010 she was convicted of trying to kill American service members in Afghanistan.
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It was initially falsely reported the gunman was her brother Muhammad, and he was demanding her release from jail.
Muhammad's lawyer yesterday condemned Akram's attack on the synagogue and said the family was working "for the release of their sister from incarceration by legal and non-violent means only."
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