The now-deceased Texas hostage taker was previously identified as British citizen Malik Faisal Akram
Police in northwestern England announced the arrest of “two teenagers” over a possible link to the Saturday incident in Colleyville, Texas, that saw a British man taking people hostage in a synagogue.
Greater Manchester Police announced on Sunday evening that the two teenagers had been arrested in South Manchester “in relation to the incident” and “remain in custody for questioning.”
The statement concluded that UK authorities would continue to assist their US counterparts in the investigation of the Saturday incident.
#UPDATE | Counter Terrorism Policing North West update following the events in Texas: pic.twitter.com/Q3o08bc8Js
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) January 16, 2022
44-year-old British citizen Malik Faisal Akram was identified on Sunday as the suspect who was shot dead during a rescue of four hostages taken captive in Colleyville, Texas’ Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. None of the hostages, one of whom had earlier been released by the suspect, were hurt.
During the incident, Akram allegedly made reference to Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently serving an 86-year prison sentence in the US for attempting to murder US soldiers in Afghanistan. While the suspect reportedly referred to the woman as his “sister,” Siddiqui’s biological brother denied connection to the incident through his lawyer. An attorney for Siddiqui herself claimed that the woman condemned the incident as well.
During the negotiations with the law enforcement, Akram reportedly demanded that Siddiqui is released from the US prison, a plea which has been shared by many activists in Pakistan that see the woman as a political prisoner and an innocent victim of the War on Terror.
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https://ift.tt/2i4b67e 17, 2022 at 07:44AM
from RT – Daily news