Legal

The hostage-taker was heard demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida.

Colleyville police secure the area around Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday in Colleyville, Texas. | Jessika Harkay/Star-Telegram via AP

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

01/15/2022 05:14 PM EST

Link Copied

COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Hostages who had been held for hours inside a Texas synagogue were rescued Saturday night, according to Gov. Greg Abbott, bringing an end to a standoff that had lasted nearly 12 hours.

“Prayers answered. All hostages are out alive and safe,” Abbott tweeted.

Abbott’s tweet came not long after a loud bang and what sounded like gunfire was heard coming from the synagogue, where authorities said a man had held people captive as he demanded the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan.

[Read More…]