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Hostages freed in Texas synagogue stand-off, gunman dead

  • Stand-off at Texas synagogue ends almost 10 hours after man disrupted a religious service and took several people hostage
  • Suspect had demanded release of a Pakistani woman who is imprisoned in US on charges of trying to kill Americans in Afghanistan

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Authorities escort one of the hostages out of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. Photo: AP

An FBI hostage rescue team stormed a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday night to free three remaining hostages of a gunman who had disrupted a religious service and began a stand-off with police more than 10 hours earlier.

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The hostage siege – in which the suspect was apparently demanding the release of a convicted terrorist – had sparked an outpouring of concern from US Jewish organisations as well as from the Israeli government.

Colleyville police chief Michael Miller said that a “rescue team breached the synagogue” Saturday evening and rescued the three remaining hostages being held inside. A first hostage had been released unharmed a few hours earlier.

“The suspect is deceased,” Miller told reporters.

FBI Dallas Special Agent Matt DeSarno said the four hostages – who included a much-loved local rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, were not in need of medical attention, would soon be reunited with their families.

The hostagetaker demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, who has been dubbed ‘Lady Qaeda’ by US tabloids. File photo: AP
The hostagetaker demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, who has been dubbed ‘Lady Qaeda’ by US tabloids. File photo: AP

“He did not harm them in any way,” he said.

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