“Prayers answered. All hostages are out alive and safe,” Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted about 20 minutes after a large bang and gunfire were heard in the direction of the synagogue.
The resolution came more than 10 hours after a gunman entered Congregation Beth Israel as the synagogue was livestreaming its Sabbath morning service on Facebook and Zoom at around 11 a.m. (noon ET) Saturday and took four hostages, Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said. The livestream appeared to capture part of the incident before it was removed.
The suspect has been identified, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno told reporters in a news conference after the hostage rescue, but authorities are not revealing his identity as the investigation continues.
That probe includes international outreach, DeSarno said, including to FBI offices in Tel Aviv and London.
President Joe Biden thanked state, local and federal law enforcement for their work in getting the hostages out safely. He said authorities will learn more “in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage taker.
DeSarno also praised the work of the FBI and local negotiators, who he said “likely saved the lives of the subjects just through their engagement.
“It’s very likely this situation would have ended very badly early on in the day had we not had professional, consistent negotiation with the subject,” DeSarno added.
“We do believe from our engaging with this subject that he was…
Source : cnn
