Posted on 01/18/22
| News Source: Manchester Evening News
The brother of a Lancashire man who took four people hostage at a Reform temple in the US before being shot dead has demanded answers about how he was allowed to travel, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn, held four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel temple in Colleyville, Texas, US. All of the hostages were released without being injured, but Akram was shot and killed by the FBI a short time later.
Two teenagers have since been detained in south Manchester by officers from Counter Terror Policing North West in connection with the hostage attack.
Speaking to Sky News, Akram’s brother, Gulbar demanded more information about how the incident had been allowed to unfold.
“He’s known to police. Got a criminal record. How was he allowed to get a visa and acquire a gun?” he said.
It is understood the hostage taker had flown to America two weeks ago and had been living in a homeless shelter.
He purchased a gun on the street, according to President Joe Biden.
Akram’s brother Gulbar said that his family were ‘devastated’ by his death after they spent hours talking to him in an attempt to secure a peaceful resolution.
A statement posted on the Blackburn Muslim Community Facebook page, he said: “Salaam family and friends, it is with great great sadness I will confirm my brother Faisal passed away in Texas, USA this morning. “We are absolutely 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 apologise wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident.”