Texas gunman identified as Malik Faisal Akram of UK

Washington, Jan 16 (UNI) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tonight identified the slain hostage-taker at Texas synagogue as British national Malik Faisal Akram.
The 44-year-old gunman was shot dead by security personnel in a dramatic 10 hour stand-off at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.
“Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Office confirmed today the identity of the Colleyville, Texas hostage taker as British Citizen, Malik Faisal Akram, 44,” the FBI Dallas Division said in a statement.
FBI also said that an Evidence Response Team (ERT) will continue processing evidence at the synagogue.
“At this time, there is no indication that other individuals are involved. The FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes member agencies from across the region, will continue to follow investigative leads,” the agency said.
According to FBI, a Shooting Incident Review Team (SIRT) will also conduct a thorough, factual, and objective investigation of the events.
Malik Faisal Akram has been reported to have demanded th release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted and sentenced to 86 years in prison, after being detained in Afghanistan for trying to kill an American army captain.
The US media, through three law enforcement officials, has reported that Malik Faisal Akram referred to Siddiqui as his “sister.”
“May the Almighty forgive all his sins and bless him with the highest ranks of paradise,” said the Blackburn Muslim Community, to which Malik belonged, in a Facebook post.
“We are devastated as a family. We can’t say much now as there is an ongoing FBI investigation. We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologize wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident,” Malik Faisal Akram’s brother Gulbar wrote on Facebook.
Gulbar also wrote that an FBI team would fly to the UK to carry out further probe.
UNI ASU RJ