The armed terrorist who took 4 individuals hostage inside a Texas synagogue made cellphone calls to somebody with a New York quantity earlier than the incident, it was revealed Tuesday.
Shortly after Malik Faisal Akram arrived in New York on Dec. 29, he bought a cellphone with a New York space code and made numerous calls to the person, who additionally had a quantity from New York, based on legislation enforcement sources and the Washington Put up.
Investigators probing the incident have recognized that particular person and instructed the outlet it doesn’t seem that they had something to do with Akram’s plan.
Legislation enforcement sources instructed The Put up Akram had additionally used the cellphone to make calls to his household within the UK to ask for cash and inform them he was headed to Texas to get married.
On Saturday, Akram, 44, walked into Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, about 26 miles northwest of Dallas, and took three congregants and a rabbi hostage for 11 hours earlier than he was killed by police.
The British nationwide had been affected by psychological well being points and made calls for to the FBI to right away launch Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani girl who was convicted on terrorism costs in 2010.
Akram apparently selected the synagogue as a result of it the closest gathering of Jewish individuals to the federal jail the place Siddiqui is serving an 86-year sentence for making an attempt to kill American troopers in Afghanistan, the outlet mentioned.
Two days after Akram arrived in New York, he boarded a flight to Texas, legislation enforcement sources beforehand instructed The Put up, and whereas within the Dallas space, stayed on the OurCalling homeless shelter, a spokesperson for the Colleyville Police instructed the outlet.
It wasn’t instantly clear how lengthy he was on the shelter however Wayne Walker, the CEO and pastor of OurCalling, mentioned Akram arrived on the shelter on Jan. 2 and was seen hugging the person who dropped him off.
“He was dropped off by any person that seemed like he had a relationship with him,” mentioned Walker, including photographs and movies of the person have been turned over to the FBI.
The gun that Akram used to take the hostages was a pistol purchased on the road in Texas that had been reported stolen, legislation enforcement sources mentioned. It was traced to a recorded buy in 2020 however it’s unclear how the weapon ended up within the terrorist’s possession, the outlet reported.
Throughout Akram’s 11-hour standoff with police, his household was referred to as in to assist with negotiations and his two teenage youngsters had been detained for questioning, legislation enforcement officers instructed the outlet.
British investigators detained the youngsters to attempt to get a clearer image of Akram’s actions and motives however it wasn’t instantly clear what they had been in a position to present.
On Sunday, Larger Manchester Police mentioned two teenagers had been taken into custody for questioning in reference to the incident and on Tuesday, the youngsters had been launched with out costs, the outlet mentioned.
FBI brokers have been working to hint Akram’s actions within the US and work out who he spoke to and what he did earlier than the Saturday assault. They’ve been in a position to acquire digital information about his actions and reviewed web searches he made in his hunt for a goal, the outlet mentioned.
Earlier Tuesday, The Telegraph reported Akram was beforehand investigated by UK intelligence companies “within the second half of 2020” however decided to not be a terroristic menace. The probe was closed shortly.
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