COLLEYVILLE, Texas – The FBI has identified the man killed after taking hostages at Texas synagogue as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram.
The BBC reports a statement from the UK Foreign Office said it is aware of the death of a British man in Texas and it was “in contact with the local authorities.”
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This is a breaking news update.
Read back: Hostages safe after Texas synagogue standoff; captor dead
Michigan native among those who were held hostage at Texas synagogue
One of the people who had been taken hostage Saturday at a Texas synagogue is originally from Lansing, Mich.
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He spent time working at Focus: Hope in Detroit. His colleagues in Michigan were closely watching what unfolded Saturday in Texas. The Associated Press reported a man took over services at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas where he could be heard ranting on a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan.
One hostage held Saturday was released during the standoff; three others got out about 9 p.m. when an FBI SWAT team entered the building, authorities said. The hostage taker was killed and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno said a team would investigate “the shooting incident.” The four who were taken hostage, including Cytron-Walker, were reportedly safe.
Athena Miller worked alongside Rabbi Cytron-Walker for many years.
“He just loved helping people. His heart was where it was all of the time. No matter what the situation was, he was always wanting to go the extra mile to help people,” said Miller.
Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple Bethel spent some time getting to know Cytron-Walker and his family through the years.
“Obviously for them this is a terrifying time. It’s hard to imagine for anyone who knows him. I would just say that Rabbi Cytron-Walker is the definition of a mensch,” said Rabbi Miller. “He is the sweetest, kindest man. A great rabbi, a great person. Again, it’s just a stark contrast between the type of person that we would aspire to be and the day that has unfolded.”