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A 10-hour-long hostage crisis at a synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth region ended late Saturday, with all hostages safe and the suspect dead, according to law enforcement authorities.
An armed person claiming to have bombs in unknown locations kidnapped a rabbi and three people at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville around noon Saturday, according to an ABC News source familiar with the matter. Colleyville police say one hostage was released unharmed about 5 p.m. local time.
Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted about 9:30 p.m. local time, “Prayers were answered. All hostages have been released alive and well.”
According to Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller, an elite FBI hostage rescue team broke into the synagogue at 9 p.m. local time and freed the captives. Miller and FBI Dallas Intelligence Officer in Charge Matt DeSarno said the suspect died in a “shooting incident,” but did not elaborate.
DeSarno stated that they were aware of the suspect’s identification but would not reveal it.
During the confrontation, it was unknown how heavily armed the hostage-taker was. The man was carrying bags and claimed to have bombs. During a news conference, law authorities refused to reveal if he had explosives or not.
While officials refused to corroborate the hostage-demands, taker’s various law enforcement sources informed ABC News that he was seeking the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui. According to DeSarno, the hostage negotiation team communicated with the suspect throughout the day.
According to the source, Siddiqui is being held at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth. She was convicted of assault and attempted murder of a US soldier in 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison for her claimed links to al-Qaida.
There is no proof that this was part of a broader conspiracy, according to officials, but authorities are looking into the suspect’s links.
