COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Amid a hostage situation at a synagogue in Colleyville, local, state and international leaders reacted to the incident as it unfolded. A White House official confirmed that the White House had been "closely monitoring" the hostage situation.
Colleyville police said Saturday morning that SWAT officers were conducting operations at Congregation Beth Israel in the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road, near Tinker Road and Highway 26.
Authorities with the Texas Department of Public Safety and FBI also responded to the scene.
In an update Saturday evening, both police and the FBI said all hostages were out and safe and that the suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, was dead. It is unclear how the suspect died, as officials have not released further information.
The Associated Press and ABC News report that there are believed to be at least four hostages and the hostage-taker involved.
As the situation unfolded, leaders asked the public to keep those all those involved in their thoughts and prayers.
Gov. Greg Abbott
U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24)
Colleyville is in U.S. Rep. Van Duyne's district. She spoke to WFAA about her office monitoring the situation.
"[Authorities] are going to continue to negotiate as long as possible. They just want nothing but those four hostages released. They're going to do everything they can to make sure that happens and ends in a peaceful situation," she said.
"We've reached out to local officials, federal officials, letting them know that our office is available for help at any point in time."
