Local media outlets report a man took hostages at a Jewish synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on Saturday morning. Colleyville police say that have a SWAT team on the scene.
Colleyville Police Department officials tweeted they are involved in a SWAT operation in the 6100 block of Pleasant Road. The scene is the location of the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue.
The FBI is also responding to the scene along with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, WFAA ABC8 reports.
The incident erupted during a live-stream broadcast from inside the synagogue for the Shabbat service, according to The Jerusalem Post. They report a gunman “with a British accent” rushed in and “threatened hostages.”
The live stream of the service continued for several more minutes before being cut off. The Jewish news outlet reports Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker is one of those being held hostage.
Colleyville Police Department Sergeant Dara Nelson told CNN, “The FBI negotiators are the ones who have contact with the person in the building.” There is “no threat to the general public” at this time,” the spokesperson added.
ABC News Correspondent Erielle Reshef tweeted that the suspect claims to be armed. He reportedly says he is the brother of Aafia Siddiqui, a terrorist convicted of trying to kill U.S. military personnel.
Reshef reported Siddiqui is being held at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, Texas.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram cited the ABC report and added that Siddiqui is being held at the Federal Medical Center at Carswell AFB.
Colleyville is a small community of about 26,000 people located about 15 miles northeast of Fort Worth.
