Texas synagogue: FBI negotiating as hostage situation unfolds
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Authorities in North Texas are involved in a standoff and a hostage situation at a synagogue Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The Colleyville Police Department said on Twitter that the agency was “conducting SWAT operations” outside Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth reported. People in the immediate area were evacuated, the newspaper reported.
The FBI negotiators are the ones who have contact with the person in the building.” Colleyville Police Sgt Dara Nelson told reporters. There is “no threat to the general public” at this time, Nelson added.
Update 4:20 p.m. EST Jan. 15: CNN and ABC News are reporting that an armed suspect took a rabbi and three others hostage. The rabbi is believed to be Charlie Cytron-Walker.
Colleyville Police and the FBI have not confirmed that information.
Original report: During a live stream of the congregation’s Shabbat morning service, a man could be heard speaking, at times angrily, The Dallas Morning News reported.
The livestream began at about 10 a.m. CST and was still playing nearly four hours later before it was finally shut off. The video did not show what was going on inside the building, the newspaper reported. Coffeyville Police dispatchers confirmed that the livestream had ended, according to WFAA-TV.
Shortly before 2 p.m. CST, the man could be heard saying, “You got to do something. I don’t want to see this guy dead, The Associated Press reported.
Before the livestream ended, muffled audio could be heard of what sounded like negotiations with authorities, the Star-Telegram reported.
According to the livestream, the man has repeatedly mentioned his sister and Islam, sprinkling his speech with profanities, the Star-Telegram reported. At one point, another voice can be heard, communicating with police, according to the newspaper.
Colleyville is located about 17 miles northeast of downtown Fort Worth.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, state troopers are helping Colleyville police at the scene, WFAA reported.
It is unclear how many people are in the synagogue, the Star-Telegram reported. Colleyville Police Sgt. Dara Nelson told reporters that no injuries have been reported inside the building.
Commenters on the livestream are offering prayers for Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker. More than 8,000 viewers are watching the livestream.
This is a developing story.
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