The Briton who held four people hostage in a Texas synagogue this Saturday was under the radar of UK intelligence agencies before he traveled to the United States last month.
Malik Faisal Akram, aged 44, was investigated on suspicion of terrorism, but his case was already closed by the time he moved to the US
A British security source told NBC that the suspicions against Akram were left behind, since the information did not meet the requirements to proceed to other phases of the investigation.
Akram, who lived in Lancashire in the northwest of England, was the subject of a low-profile investigation by the domestic agency British intelligence known as MI5 in the second half of the 2020. The inquiries extended for a month based on information that he may have been involved in Islamic terrorism.
When there was no indication of a real terrorist threat, according to the source, Akram’s case was added to approximately others 40, of “subjects of interest” that were closed in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom Home Office has not reacted to this information.
Akram, who also had a history of mental problems, was identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as the gunman who kept members of Congregation Beth Israel on edge for 11 hours. The incident culminated in the four hostages escaping from the church before the suspect was killed by federal agents who responded to the scene in Colleyville.
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker confirmed Monday to “CBS Mornings” who helped the hostages escape after throwing a chair at the intruder.
According to Cytron-Walker, he made the decision when he saw that the attacker did not look good and was acting increasingly belligerent and threatening. The religious added that he was guided by a training against active shooters that he had taken.