‘They're Innocent People, Man' Phone Call Shows Brother Pleading With Colleyville Synagogue Hostage-Taker

CBS Dallas/Fort Worth

January 20, 2022

A British man who held four people hostage in a Texas synagogue ranted against Jews and American wars in countries like Afghanistan as his brother pleaded with him to give up and free the captives, a recording of the conversation shows.

The expletive-filled recording, posted on the website of The Jewish Chronicle, indicates the motivation of Malik Faisal Akram, 44, who said he was “bombed up” and equipped with “every ammunition” as he talked to his brother on Saturday from inside Congregation Beth Israel in Coleyville, Texas.

Gulbar Akram desperately tried to get his brother to lay down his weapons and return to his children alive.

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