The British man behind the Texas synagogue hostage crisis in Texas last weekend was investigated by intelligence services nearly two years ago.
MI5 had placed Malik Faisal Akram under investigation as a potential Islamist terror threat in 2020 according to Whitehall sources.
The investigation into Akram was closed in the second half of 2020 and concluded that Mr. Akram did not pose a significant threat and he was marked as a “closed subject of interest” in intelligence files.
UK authorities subsequently did not pass any information to their US counterparts, allowing Akram to enter the US and make his way to Texas where he held a synagogue congregation hostage for 11 hours during their shabbat services.
Greater Manchester Police have now made two arrests related to the investigation. Officers from Counter Terror Policing North West arrested two teenagers in South Manchester on Sunday night and they remain in police custody for questioning.
The family of Akram has apologised to the victims of the attack, saying "We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologise wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident."
The family have also confirmed that they're fully co-operating with law enforcement, including the FBI, who are believed to be leading the investigation internationally.
My thoughts are with the Jewish community and all those affected by the appalling act in Texas. We condemn this act of terrorism and anti-semitism.
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) January 16, 2022
We stand with US in defending the rights and freedoms of our citizens against those who spread hate. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 👇 https://t.co/36Eb8lRQTV
President Joe Biden has referred to the event as an act of terrorism, with foreign secretary Liz Truss also deploring the act of antisemitic terrorism.
A gunman who disrupted a religious service in a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, and took four people hostage engaged in an 'act of terror,' President Joe Biden said https://t.co/iCiVg5G5KZ pic.twitter.com/7ODr3sLwdb
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 16, 2022
