A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told CNN there were believed to be four hostages, including a rabbi, at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, just outside Fort Worth. Several hours into the standoff, Colleyville Police Sgt. Dara Nelson said one hostage had been released.
There are no injuries at this time, Nelson said.
“The FBI negotiators are the ones who have contact with the person in the building.” Nelson said. There is “no threat to the general public” at this time, Nelson added.
The synagogue was livestreaming their Sabbath morning service on Facebook when the hostage situation began. The livestream appeared to capture part of the incident before it was removed. Law enforcement officials told CNN they reviewed the stream and are using it to gather clues on the incident and the individuals involved.
That assessment is based on both discussions with the suspect and audio heard on the synagogue’s livestream, the officials said.
CNN has reached out to lawyers for Siddiqui for reaction to the hostage situation.
At the request of the hostage taker, the rabbi of the congregation who is being held hostage called a well known rabbi in New York CIty, according to two officials briefed on investigation.
The FBI interviewed the New York City-based rabbi who spoke to the hostage taker earlier Saturday. The hostage taker, who has no connection with the rabbi, told her that Siddiqi was framed and he wants her released, the officials said.
Congregation member Stacey Silverman described watching the livestream for more than an hour, listening to the suspect ranting, sometimes switching between saying “I’m not a criminal” to being…
Source : cnn
