FBI identifies hostage-taker in Colleyville standoff as 44-year-old British citizen

The FBI on Sunday identified the hostage-taker in the standoff at a Colleyville synagogue as Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British citizen.

Akram — who could be heard speaking during a livestream that broadcast a portion of the 11-hour standoff — died Saturday night after a hostage rescue team breached the building. The four hostages were unharmed.

Authorities said Saturday that Akram was killed in a shooting but did not answer a question about whether he was shot by law enforcement or if the gunshot was self-inflicted. The man claimed to have explosives, according to statements he made on the livestreamed video. Authorities have said he had a gun.

“This was an act of terror,” President Joe Biden said Sunday. Biden said there were apparently no explosives, despite the threats, the Associated Press reported. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was among those held at Congregation Beth Israel, said Sunday in a statement that he and his congregation had participated in security courses from the Colleyville Police Department, the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League and Secure Community Network.