Malik Faisal Akram

February 16, 2022, 9:49 pm

FBI says Texas synagogue hostage-taker tried to buy ‘machine gun’ and drugs

Dallas man accused of selling Malik Faisal Akram pistol says the attacker sought to buy methamphetamines and ‘weapon that contains large number of bullets’

By Jake Bleiberg

SWAT team members deploy near Congregation Beth Israel, a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.(Andy Jacobsohn/AFP)

January 27, 2022, 1:09 am

US authorities arrest suspect who sold gun to synagogue hostage-taker

Malik Akram purchased semiautomatic Taurus G2C pistol 2 days before Texas standoff, telling dealer he needed it to ‘intimidate’ someone who owed him cash, Justice Department says

By Jacob Magid

A law enforcement vehicle is seen near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on January 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP)

January 26, 2022, 12:41 pm

Two more men arrested in UK over Texas synagogue attack

British counterterrorism police say four others also questioned over connection to Malik Faisal Akram, who took hostages at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville

By AFP

January 24, 2022, 4:36 am

Brother of Texas synagogue hostage-taker says ‘religious nuts got a hold of him’

Gulbar Akram also asserts that brother Akram had not been antisemitic: ‘He didn’t hate Jews. One of his closest friends is Jewish’

By TOI staff and Agencies

January 22, 2022, 3:29 am

‘Time to go’: Hostages escaped Texas synagogue as FBI SWAT team moved in

Special agent, rabbi reveal new details about final moments of standoff at Congregation Beth Israel, say both took ‘near simultaneous plans of action’ as situation deteriorated

By AP and Jacob Magid

January 21, 2022, 9:09 pm

Colleyville synagogue hostage-taker killed by multiple gunshots — medical examiner

FBI acknowledges attacker’s death ‘a result of the deadly force’ it used; special agent, rabbi say they recognized deteriorating situation at same time, acted almost simultaneously

By AP and Jacob Magid

Congregation Beth Israel hostage taker, identified as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram. (Courtesy)

January 20, 2022, 2:53 pm

In final call, Texas synagogue hostage-taker ranted about ‘f*cking Jews,’ US wars

In recording of last phone call during siege, Malik Akram tells his brother he wants to ‘go down as a martyr’ and that he’s ‘opening doors’ for other jihadists

By Agencies and TOI staff

A law enforcement vehicle sits in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on January 16, 2022 in Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP)

January 20, 2022, 11:55 am

UK police arrest two men over Texas synagogue attack

Counter-terrorism officers detain and question pair over possible ties to hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram, who was killed after 11-hour siege in Colleyville on Saturday

By AFP and TOI staff

January 18, 2022, 11:36 pm

White House says Texas hostage-taker raised no red flags when entering US

Malik Faisal Akram was checked against law enforcement databases when he landed in New York several weeks ago

By MICHAEL BALSAMO, Jake Bleiberg and Eric Tucker

January 18, 2022, 4:38 pm

Texas synagogue gunman was probed by UK’s MI5 in 2020 as possible terror threat

Domestic security agency said to have received information about Malik Faisal Akram that prompted an investigation, but it was soon shut down for lack of evidence

By AFP and AP

Congregation Beth Israel member Jeffrey Cohen speaks via Zoom with The Times of Israel on January 17, 2022. (Screen capture/Zoom)

January 18, 2022, 1:14 am

Hostage: Attacker chose synagogue, thinking Jews powerful enough to free ‘sister’

Jeff Cohen recounts emotional moment he phoned family for what he thought would be last time; urges Jewish communities to take active shooter course, which helped save their lives

By Jacob Magid

Rows of terraced houses are pictured on a residential street in Blackburn, northwest England, on January 17, 2022. (Paul Ellis/AFP)

January 17, 2022, 10:13 pm

Disbelief in English town after local man takes hostages at Texas synagogue

Activist says Blackburn’s Muslim community is shocked by Malik Faisal Akram’s ‘unacceptable’ attack on Jewish house of worship 7,400 km away, questions why he was allowed to fly

By Paul Barker

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker speaks to CBS on January 17, 2022. (Screen capture/YouTube)

January 17, 2022, 6:18 pm

Texas rabbi: I threw a chair at the gunman, and we headed for the door

Recalling ‘terrifying’ final moments of standoff, Charlie Cytron-Walker says he checked to see the other hostages with him were ready before springing into action, fleeing

By Jacob Magid

FBI Special Agent In Charge Matthew DeSarno speaks at a news conference near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on January 15, 2022 in Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images via AFP)

January 17, 2022, 9:03 am

With info scarce, US authorities, Jewish groups differ on Texas attacker’s motives

FBI declares gunman ‘singularly focused,’ Biden says he had multiple agendas; Reform movement sure targeting of synagogue was antisemitism, but synagogue itself says it was random

By Jacob Magid

January 17, 2022, 5:08 am

UK police arrest 2 teens over Texas synagogue attack, reportedly gunman’s sons

Law enforcement official cited saying Malik Faisal Akram was in contact with sons during crisis; FBI has previously said hostage-taker was acting alone

By AFP and TOI staff