Colleyville rabbi says hostages seized chance to flee when gunman became more threatening
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Hostages held at Colleyville synagogue
Four hostages escaped unharmed and the gunman died after authorities in Colleyville spent hours negotiating with the hostage-taker at Congregation Beth Israel.
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The rabbi who was held captive in his Colleyville synagogue along with three members of his congregation Saturday said the hostages were prepared to act and took the opportunity to flee as the gunman became more threatening.
“In the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening,” Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker said in an emailed statement Sunday afternoon. “Without the instruction we received, we would not have been prepared to act and flee when the situation presented itself.”
Cytron-Walker and Michael Finfer, president of Congregation Beth Israel, said in the joint statement Sunday that members of the congregation had security training.
“Over the years, my congregation and I have participated in multiple security courses from the Colleyville Police Department, the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League, and Secure Community Network,” Cytron-Walker said. “We are alive today because of that education. I encourage all Jewish congregations, religious groups, schools, and others to participate in active-shooter and security courses.”
“We know that a situation of this magnitude could increase the concern many of us live with on a day-to-day basis due to antisemitism,” Finfer said. “It is important to note that this was a random act of violence. Indeed, there was a one in a million chance that the gunman picked our congregation. Further, the FBI is confirming that the attacker appeared to be working alone.”
“There is no question that this was a traumatic experience.” Cytron-Walker concluded. “We appreciate all the love, prayers and support from our local community and throughout the world. We are grateful for the outcome. We are resilient and we will recover.”
Cytron-Walker wrote in a post on Facebook earlier Sunday that he was grateful that he and his congregants made it out alive after being held hostage for more than 10 hours. Authorities have said the man who held them at gunpoint died as law enforcement breached the building Saturday night. The FBI has identified the hostage-taker as Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British citizen.
This story was originally published January 16, 2022 at 3:11 PM.
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