COLLEYVILLE, Tex. (1010 WINS) -- Congregants have reportedly been taken hostage at a Texas synagogue near Dallas Saturday afternoon by a man apparently trying to free his terrorist sister from incarceration.
The Colleyville Police Department said it was conducting “SWAT operations” at Congregation Beth Israel Saturday afternoon. Police also confirmed to the Dallas Morning News that they were involved in a standoff at the synagogue.
According to ABC News, the suspect, Muhammad Siddiqui, who says he has bombs in unknown locations, has taken four people hostage. The report said he claims his sister is Aafia Siddiqui, a known terrorist who is incarcerated in Fort Worth, and he is demanding she be released from a 86-year prison sentence.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, authorities north of Fort Worth and the FBI were negotiating with a man inside.
The congregation had at one point had its service livestreaming on Facebook, but it has since been removed from the website. Reports said only audio of the situation was captured, and a man could be heard speaking angrily at times.
Shortly before 2 p.m., the man said, “You got to do something. I don’t want to see this guy dead.” Moments later, the feed cut out.
The man repeatedly mentioned his sister and Islam and used profanities, and he repeatedly said he thought he was going to die, the Star-Telegram reported. It wasn’t immediately clear if he was armed.
Officials said at this time, no one has been injured. The area around the synagogue has been evacuated.