Body of Texas synagogue siege terrorist can't come here, warns Pakistan

Earlier, thousands of viewers watching the live-streamed Shabbat service had been horrified when the gunman from Blackburn had taken the quartet hostage.

He was demanding the release of Pakistani al-Qaeda terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year sentence in a Texas prison.

A recording of Akram’s final phone call from the synagogue to his brother back in England exclusively obtained by the JC revealed how he had yelled hateful abuse of “f***ing Jews” in his final minutes before the FBI moved in to end the siege.

All the hostages survived unharmed.

Now the JC has learned that there is deep concern in Pakistan that Akram’s body may be flown in to be buried there.

Although he was born in the UK, his family are from Pakistan and he spent some time there are a young child.

The Pakistani government has issued orders to diplomats at consulates in the US and the High Commission in Knightsbridge, London, to ensure that Akram’s body is not allowed to board an incoming flight.

A high-ranking level Pakistani diplomatic source said a top-level meeting among officials in Islamabad took place after Akram was identified as being of Pakistani descent.

The body is currently believed to be in the charge of the US authorities in a morgue in Texas.

Pakistan fears a repeat of the events following the death of terrorist Usman Khan in 2019.

He was shot dead by British police after he had fatally stabbed Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, who both worked in the prisoner rehabilitation programme of which he was a part.

Khan’s body was flown out to Pakistan and buried in a village in Kashmir.

The Pakistani diplomatic source said: “We were embarrassed by having Usman Khan’s body being buried in Pakistan. We did not like the fiasco that followed with people saying he was a martyr.

“The government had no idea that Usman Khan’s body had been buried in Pakistan until much later. It shocked many, but pleased a few militant groups who supported his terrible murders in London.

"We understand that Akram’s relations have had a family gathering where it was discussed whether to take the body of Akram to Pakistan or bury him in the UK.

“His body is not coming to Pakistan under any circumstances. Not on this government’s watch. The Prime Minister and his officials don’t want the same type of scrutiny that was experienced when Usman Khan was found to have been buried here. It was humiliating.”

The source added: “Pakistan is keeping a close eye on this and all flights to Pakistan from US and UK will be monitored in coming days and weeks, especially any bodies being brought back for burial, which is not an unusual thing.

“The strictest orders have been issued and diplomats have been told their jobs will be on the line if Akram’s body makes it to Pakistan. Three government officials will be working full time monitoring applications to bring bodies back to Pakistan. They will work 24 hours a day, eight hours each to determine whether any attempt is made to fly his body to Pakistan.

“The utmost scrutiny will be made to check paperwork and even bodies themselves to ensure our rules are not breached. We do not want people who kill or set out to kill in the name of Islam to have the honour of being martyred and buried in our beautiful country.”

A friend of Akram’s family confirmed that Pakistani diplomats had received word that the possibility of his remains being laid to rest there had been discussed.

A message that this would not be allowed had been relayed back to his family in the UK as well as relatives in Jhelum, Pakistan.

The diplomatic source added: “This is the UK’s own mess and homegrown radicalisation issue. We have enough of our own problems. Akram was radicalised on the streets of UK, not Pakistan.

"He grew up and was educated in UK and had all issues, good and bad, in the UK. He had zero relationship with Pakistan. He belongs to Britain and should be buried there. We will not allow terrorists to think Pakistan is safe for them, in life or after.”