Top GOP lawmaker discloses 'something more' to hostage crisis at Texas synagogue; investigation goes global



A top House Republican revealed Sunday the investigation into the man who took four people hostage at a Texas synagogue on Saturday has gone international.

What are the details?

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN host Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" there is "something more" to the case than a lone actor.

In fact, McCaul disclosed that the FBI's investigation now extends to London and Tel Aviv.

"I know the FBI has now fanned their investigation out to London and Tel Aviv. So this has now turned into an international investigation. So there’s something more here," McCaul said. "And the fact he’s calling for Lady al Qaeda’s release from prison has been, as you said, in the jihadist world kind of a cause celebre."

"And so I think we’re going to find out a lot more in the next 24, 48 hours. He is British. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s Pakistani, just like Siddiqui. And we need to get to the bottom of this," he added. "We haven’t seen one of these radicalized attacks in a few years now, and it is disturbing to see it raise its ugly head again."

"Ukraine is a breadbasket of Russia. Putin wants to restore the glory of the old Soviet empire," says Rep. Michael McCaul.\n\n"They're very aggressive in the timetable. I think you're going to see this play out very quickly... [the United States] ought to be providing deterrents."pic.twitter.com/J9DNx9BGh3
— State of the Union (@State of the Union) 1642348317

Law enforcement identified 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram as the perpetrator, and said he traveled to the U.S. approximately five weeks ago. The motive has not been officially determined, although his choice of attacking a synagogue on a Saturday during the middle of a Sabbath service strongly suggests religious motivations.

The suspect reportedly demanded the release of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, who is known as "Lady Al Qaeda." Siddiqui is serving an 86-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2010 of attempted murder and armed assault of U.S. military personnel. Siddiqui is incarcerated at a federal prison not far from the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue that was attacked.

"This is a disturbing case that demonstrates that anti-Semitism is unfortunately alive and well," McCaul said. "I think they chose this synagogue because she, Siddiqui, the Lady al Qaeda, they call her, is being detained in a Fort Worth prison facility."

Anything else?

After the FBI attempted to downplay the role religion played in hostage crisis at the synagogue, President Joe Biden condemned the incident as an act of terrorism.

"This was an act of terror," Biden said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan also condemned the incident as an "act of terrorism" and an "act of anti-Semitism."

FBI downplays religious connection of hostage crisis at Jewish synagogue. It does not end well.



The FBI and Associated Press were slammed Saturday over a bizarre tweet from the AP addressing the hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Saturday.

What did the FBI say?

After law enforcement announced the hostage-taker's death, the FBI seemingly downplayed the religious aspect of the crime.

"BREAKING: The FBI says the Texas synagogue hostage taker's demands were specifically focused on issue not connected to the Jewish community," the AP tweeted.

BREAKING: The FBI says the Texas synagogue hostage taker's demands were specifically focused on issue not connected to the Jewish community.http://apne.ws/giqEpIH
— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press) 1642308983

The AP quoted FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt DeSarno as the FBI official behind the remarks.

"DeSarno said the hostage taker was specifically focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community and there was no immediate indication that the man had was part of any broader plan, but DeSarno said the agency’s investigation 'will have global reach,'" the news report said.

What was the reaction?

The AP's tweet immediately generated backlash for amplifying what DeSarno said. Critics questioned how law enforcement officials could arrive to such a conclusion when the investigation into the incident was in the earliest stages.

Others abruptly fact-checked the AP's tweet. In fact, despite attempts to downplay the religious aspect of the incident, the hostage-taker chose a synagogue on Sabbath where Jews were gathered and he allegedly demanded the release of a convicted terrorist known for being an adamant anti-Semite.

  • "I am sure the FBI will clean this up shortly, but until then, worth stating the obvious: The gunman did not travel thousands of miles to terrorize some Mormons. He sought out a synagogue and took it hostage over his grievances. That's targeting Jews, and there's a word for that," Yair Rosenberg said.
  • "[P]utting aside the absurdity of asking us to ignore the choice of venue, the choice of victims, that it was done on a Saturday specifically, and that it was apparently done on behalf of a rather outspoken anti-Semite ... this seems an unusually speedy determination by the FBI," Becket Adams said.
  • "A Muslim terrorist travels to a Synagogue on the Sabbath and takes a Rabbi and three other Jews hostage, while demanding the release of a convicted Antisemitic terrorist.Sorry @AP but I'm pretty sure that it's DIRECTLY connected to the Jewish community," one person observed.
  • "He was seeking the release of the virulent antisemite and convicted terrorist—Aafia Siddiqui. She blamed Jews for everything—likely he did too," Christina Sommers said.
  • "In a society where victimhood status confers prestige, it's very important that Jews never be seen as victims," one person observed.
  • "Islamic radical wandered into a synagogue in Texas by accident," David Harsanyi mocked.
  • "Yeah, the release of his sister who hates Jews and wants them dead. Feels like there might be some sort of connection there anyway," Noam Blum said.
  • "[O]h good I’m so glad to hear that a man who held four hostages in a synagogue for eleven hours after taking them during Shabbat services didn’t do it for any specific reason and this string of events was just a coincidence and not antisemitic at all. What a relief," another person mocked.
  • "Is this the same FBI that said the Bernie Bro who shot up the Republican baseball practice just chose a random field and had no political motives whatsoever?" one person mocked.

Fortunately, all hostages were released without injury. The suspect was killed, but law enforcement did not say who fired the fatal shot.

Suspect accused of setting fire to Austin synagogue on Halloween arrested



Authorities have arrested a man who is believed to have intentionally set fire to a synagogue in Austin, Texas, on Halloween night.

The suspect, Franklin Barrett Sechriest, 18, is accused of using an accelerant near the sanctuary doors of Congregation Beth Israel to set the building on fire, causing an estimated $25,000 in damage, arson investigators with the Austin Fire Department said.

AFD on scene of a small exterior fire at Congregation Beth Israel 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd. fire is out. No injuries. Arson investigators responding to assist with cause determination.pic.twitter.com/hgMvJNAk5o

— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) 1635733740

Local news outlet KXAN-TV reported that an arrest affidavit for Sechriest said surveillance video showed a dark-colored Jeep enter the north parking lot of the synagogue around 9 p.m. on Oct. 31. The driver, described as a "tall thin white male with dark hair," exited the vehicle carrying what appeared to be a heavy green jug.

The affidavit said the man walked out of view of the camera toward the place where the fire started. Minutes later, the video shows a fire being ignited from four different camera angles.

Then, the suspect returns within view of the cameras, runs back to the Jeep, and drives away, the affidavit said.

Congregation Beth Israel gave investigators surveillance footage from Oct. 28 that appeared to show the same Jeep visiting the synagogue parking lot and then leaving. Authorities were able to learn the Jeep's license plate number from the footage and tracked down the vehicle owner in San Marcos.

"While the Jeep wasn't registered to Sechriest, he lived with the person who it was registered to, and investigators found that Sechriest fit the description of the suspect seen in surveillance videos," KXAN reported.

Following the suspect's arrest, senior Rabbi Steve Folberg of Congregation Beth Israel gave a statement to the media:

We are grateful to the authorities including the Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their diligent and persistent work investigating this hateful, antisemitic act. It gives us some sense of relief to learn of this arrest, but we are staying vigilant. Across Central Texas and beyond, we are seeing a spike in attacks against Jews. We denounce all acts of bigotry and violence, especially those motivated by blind hatred of any of the proud and distinctive communities that enrich our civic life. We will remain strong and vigilant in the ongoing work of justice, safety and peace for ourselves and all our neighbors.

Rabbi Folberg added the congregation is grateful to Shalom Austin, Anti-Defamation League Austin, the Austin community, and people around the world for their outpouring of support following the arson incident.

Austin Fire is conducting an ongoing investigation alongside the FBI and did not comment further to KXAN-TV.