Video captures Beth Israel hostages fleeing, agents raiding Colleyville synagogue

A news photographer captured video of the Colleyville Beth Israel hostages fleeing the synagogue Saturday night, shortly before an elite FBI team raided the building and the hostage-taker died.

The video taken by WFAA-TV photographer Josh Stephen shows at least two people run out a door, before a man carrying what appears to be a handgun and wearing a backpack briefly steps out the door and returns inside. Law enforcement yell, “Come out front!”

Within seconds, dozens of agents wearing tactical gear scramble around the building. Four gunshots are heard before a loud explosion, followed by more gunshots and agents shouting commands.

Authorities said after the 9:15 p.m. rescue that the three people held hostage for nearly 11 hours were unharmed. A fourth hostage was released unharmed around 5 p.m. The hostage-taker, who was publicly identified Sunday as 44-year-old British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, is dead. The circumstances of his death haven’t been disclosed.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker was one of four people taken hostage around 10:41 a.m. during services at the synagogue, which were being livestreamed on Beth Israel’s Facebook page.

In January 2020, the congregation led by Cytron-Walker held a service to stand against hate and bigotry after five people were wounded in a stabbing while celebrating Hanukkah in New York.

He is described as a friend of the Muslim community. Jawaid Alam, president of the Islamic Center of Southlake, said it’s “unthinkable that this would happen at the synagogue of a peace-loving rabbi who has promoted interfaith talks.”

This story was originally published January 16, 2022 at 7:08 AM.

Matt Leclercq

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Matt Leclercq is senior managing editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He previously was an editor at USA Today in Washington, national news editor at Gatehouse Media in Austin, and executive editor of The Fayetteville (NC) Observer. He’s a New Orleans native.