Texas Synagogue Hostage-taker Demanded Release of Pakistani Woman Terrorist
The man who took hostages at a Texas synagogue on Saturday was demanding the release of a Pakistani woman from a federal prison in the state where she is serving an 86-year prison sentence. Aafia Siddiqui was convicted in 2010 on charges that she shot at US military officers while being detained in Afghanistan by US Army troops and FBI agents, over concerns that she was plotting mass casualty attacks on sites in the United States.
Siddiqui is married to suspected al-Qaida member Ammar al-Baluchi, a nephew of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, who planned the 9/11 attacks.
During her trial, she told the judge she didn’t want Jews sitting on the jury “if they have a Zionist or Israeli background.” After her conviction, she said, “This is a verdict coming from Israel and not from America. That’s where the anger belongs.”
Three hostages, including the synagogue’s rabbi, were rescued from Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas late on Saturday night, after an 11-hour standoff with a man claiming to be Siddiqui’s brother; he was killed in the rescue operation.
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who was monitoring the hostage situation, tweeted following the rescue that he was “Relieved and thankful that the hostages of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas have been rescued.” The tweet also said: “This event is a stark reminder that antisemitism is still alive and we must continue to fight it worldwide. To the Jewish community in Colleyville and around the world: You are not alone – we stand united with you.”
