For members of Congregation Beth Israel, it began like any other Saturday.
Families from the Reform Jewish synagogue near Dallas-Fort Worth had assembled in person and online for the Sabbath service, despite the twin dangers of a new pandemic and a rising tide of anti-Semitic crimes in the United States.
By the end of the day, a livestreamed hostage-taking, an imprisoned terrorist icon, an elite FBI rescue team, a rabbi's quick thinking, and a final, frantic rush to freedom would have put the Colleyville community of faith at the heart of a global drama.
More information could lead to a better understanding of what transpired. But the story is already one of harrowing agony, with the greater American Jewish community being pushed to be tough once again as danger lurks around every corner.
A rabbi greets a newcomer.
That morning, a stranger entered the synagogue.
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker greeted the man and offered him a cup of tea, according to CBS.
Cytron-Walker may not have realized Malik Faisal Akram, 44, was a British national at the time. According to a US law enforcement source involved with the inquiry, Akram landed in the US via New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in late December.
According to Union Gospel Mission Dallas CEO Bruce Butler, Akram had spent three nights at a Dallas homeless shelter in the two weeks prior to meeting Cytron-Walker. Butler stated he was pretty quiet and didn't stay long enough to form any relationships.
According to the rabbi, Cytron-Walker and Akram conversed over their shared tea.
"Some of his explanation didn't line up, so I was a little puzzled," said the rabbi, who would shortly deliver a religious ceremony for the 157 families who make up his congregation, which was founded in 1999.
The rabbi introduced their visitor that day to Jeffrey Cohen, the vice president of the synagogue's board of trustees. Cohen said in a Facebook post about his experience that he went over and introduced himself.
"He was on the phone, but he took a break from it," Cohen added. "I let him go back to his call after we introduced ourselves and he said hello and smiled. He appeared relaxed and relieved to be inside after a chilly 20-degree morning. His eyes weren't racing around; his hands were open and relaxed; he smiled and said hello. "
Many Congregation Beth Israel members stayed at home on Saturday to observe the weekly prayers via Facebook or Zoom due to the latest coronavirus outbreak. At 10 a.m., services began.
He heard a click as the rabbi lead the prayers, his back turned as he faced Jerusalem. It comes from an unknown source.
"It turned out to be his rifle," Cytron-Walker explained.
Cohen said he heard the "unmistakable sound of an automated slide engaging a round" when he heard the same click. The enigmatic visitor then began yelling something. Cohen wrote that he contacted 911 on his phone, placed the screen side down, and moved as directed.
Authorities say Akram kidnapped four individuals, including the rabbi.
'At the end of this, I'm going to die.'
At 10:41 a.m., police received an emergency call.
Police said they hurried to the synagogue and set up a perimeter, evacuating neighboring people. According to FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno, almost 200 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, including the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, were quickly on the scene.
Meanwhile, the video — designed for the faithful who stayed at home to avoid Covid-19 — appeared to capture part of Akram's words.
"I'm all fired up. I've got a lot of ammo, "He informed someone he referred to as his nephew. "You know what, I'm going to die," he says.
It's sometimes difficult to comprehend the audio, and it's unclear who Akram is speaking to. However, he made it plain that he intended to die during the standoff, as he frequently stated.
"Are you paying attention? I don't want you to cry, therefore don't cry. Listen! I'm going to set these four men free... But after that, I'm heading to the yard, right?... Is it true that they're going to abduct me? Okay, I'm going to die at the end of this. Are you paying attention? I'm going to pass away! OK? So, don't weep for me ""Says the man to someone else," he says.
Stacey Silverman, a member of the congregation, stayed up for more than an hour to watch the webcast. She said she overheard the guy shouting and going between claiming, "I'm not a criminal," and apologizing.
She described the man as "screaming wildly" as he switched between languages. He claimed to be in possession of a bomb.
The FBI claimed in a statement that Akram "talked repeatedly about a convicted terrorist who is serving an 86-year prison sentence in the United States." Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani with a PhD in neuroscience, is likely to be the defendant. She is serving a federal prison sentence in Fort Worth after being found guilty of attempted murder and other crimes in an assault on US officers in Afghanistan.
Her attorney stated on Saturday that she was not involved in the Colleyville attack.
"He wanted this woman released, and he wanted to talk to her, and he chose this synagogue because "Jews rule the world," he added flatly. The media is dominated by Jews. The banks are under Jewish control. I'd like to speak with the United States' chief rabbi,' "According to Cohen, there is no chief rabbi in the United States.
Cohen resisted doing exactly what Akram ordered inside the synagogue, he posted on Facebook. Cohen stayed in line with one of the exits rather than going to the back of the room as ordered. When a cop arrived at the door, the hostage-taker became even more furious.