Texas synagogue siege: Teens held in UK as Briton named as hostage-taker - BBC News

British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn, was shot dead after a standoff with police in Colleyville.

Greater Manchester Police said it was liaising with local communities and continuing to assist in the US inquiry.

According to US police sources, Akram arrived in the country via New York's JFK International Airport two weeks ago.

He apologised to the victims and said his brother had been suffering from mental health issues.

The siege began at around 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT) when police were called to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in the suburb of Dallas.

Suzanne Hughes said she was at home celebrating a birthday with her family when they saw police with guns drawn rush toward the synagogue.

This FBI-led investigation is likely to spread across three continents, focussing primarily on what is known about hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram here in the UK, as well as anyone who may have helped him, either in the UK or the US.

But for now the immediate focus is on anyone Akram was in contact with in the area of north-west England where he came from.

There has been no confirmation yet of whether Akram was already known to the UK authorities but he had no prior police record in the US.

Officials added Akram also asked to speak to Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year term in a prison in Forth Worth, Texas, about 20 miles away from the synagogue.

Police sources say that no explosive material was found on Akram and US federal courts do not show he had any criminal history.

Akram's brother said he had liaised "with Faisal, the negotiators, FBI etc" during the siege but "there was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender"?

Two teens held in UK over Texas synagogue siege.