Biden calls Texas synagogue attack an ‘act of terror’

The gunman who held four people hostage in Colleyville had demanded freedom for a Pakistani prisoner dubbed ‘Lady Al-Qaeda’

President Joe Biden said Saturday’s hostage situation at a Texas synogogue was an “act of terror.” He added they were still learning about the now-deceased suspect’s motives.

The president made his comments while at an event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Sunday.

The president said he has been briefed on the situation by Attorney General Merrick Garland and they are working to address “these types of acts.” He added that he has spoken to the rabbi who was among the captives.

NEW — Biden on the hostage situation at a synagogue in Texas last night: “This was an act of terror.” pic.twitter.com/zwwbAGEPq4

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 16, 2022

President Joe Biden told reporters he considers the Colleyville Beth Israel synagogue hostage-taking an “act of terror,” and that he is working with attorney general to “address these types of acts,” per pool.
POTUS also says he put a call in to the rabbi.

— Matt Leclercq (@Matt_Leclercq) January 16, 2022

Four people were held hostage on Saturday at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas by a man who later died during a police raid of the building after hours of negotiations. None of the hostages, one of whom had eaerlier been released by the gunman, were apparently hurt.

Read more Suspect dead after FBI storm Texas synagogue, freeing hostages

Part of the negotiations made it through a Facebook livestream at the synagogue, where the suspect could be heard threatening the hostages and referencing Islam and a woman he referred to as his “sister.” Multiple outlets suggested the suspect was the sister of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently serving an 86 year prison sentence in the US after being charged with attempting to murder US personel. Siddiqui’s biological brother Muhammad’s lawyer on Saturday denied the man was involved in the situation, while the woman’s own lawyer said she “condemned” the suspect’s actions.

There have been growing calls for Siddiqui’s release in both the US and abroad, with supporters labeling her an innocent victim of the war on terror. The Pakistani government even passed a resolution in 2018 dubbing her ‘Daughter of the Nation’. In the US media, the woman had been dubbed ‘Lady Al-Qaeda’ after her arrest and eventual conviction in 2010.