Here’s what President Joe Biden said about the Colleyville synagogue standoff

President Joe Biden on Saturday thanked law enforcement and sent love and strength to the Colleyville congregation after an hours-long hostage situation was resolved with all four hostages freed.

Biden said motivations for the hostage-taker remain unclear but decried acts of anti-Semitism.

“There is more we will learn in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage taker,” Biden said in a statement. “But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hate — we will stand against anti-Semitism and against the rise of extremism in this country. That is who we are, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement made us all proud.”

Law enforcement officials announced during a Sunday news conference that three hostages held at Congregation Beth Israel had been released. Another had been released hours before. They also said the hostage-taker was dead.

The FBI and local police said at a news conference Saturday night that three hostages who were held in a Colleyville synagogue for nearly 12 hours are unharmed and the hostage-taker is dead after a hostage rescue team breached the building.

President Joe Biden’s full statement

Here’s Biden’s full statement on the hostage situation that ended late Saturday in Colleyville.

“Thanks to the courageous work of state, local and federal law enforcement, four Americans who were held hostage at a Texas synagogue will soon be home with their families. I am grateful to the tireless work of law enforcement at all levels who acted cooperatively and fearlessly to rescue the hostages. We are sending love and strength to the members of Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, and the Jewish community.

There is more we will learn in the days ahead about the motivations of the hostage taker. But let me be clear to anyone who intends to spread hate—we will stand against anti-Semitism and against the rise of extremism in this country. That is who we are, and tonight, the men and women of law enforcement made us all proud.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2022 at 11:42 PM.

Eleanor Dearman

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

(817) 807-3200

Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She’s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years. Support my work with a digital subscription