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Texas hostage situation: 1 released from synagogue, 3 others still inside

Jake Bleiberg/AP

A Texas state trooper blocks traffic on a road leading to a Colleyville, Texas synagogue where a man apparently took hostages Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Jake Bleiberg)

By: The Associated Press & Scripps National

Posted at 2:42 PM, Jan 15, 2022

and last updated 2022-01-15 21:19:14-05

Authorities say a man has taken hostages at a synagogue near Fort Worth, Texas.

The Colleyville Police Department tweeted Saturday afternoon that it was conducting SWAT operations at Congregation Beth Israel.

Services at the synagogue were being livestreamed on Facebook for a time.

Officials said the suspect initially took four hostages. One of those hostages was released at about 5 p.m. local time. That hostage was expected to be reunited with his family soon and did not require medical attention.

There have been no reported injuries.

An official told The Associated Press that the hostage-taker has demanded the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaeda. The neuroscientist is in federal prison in Texas after being convicted of trying to kill U.S. military officers while in custody in Afghanistan.

UPDATE 1/15/22, 1:20 PM The situation at the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road posted about earlier remains ongoing. We ask that you continue to avoid the area. We will continue to provide updates via social media.
— Colleyville Police (@ColleyvillePD) January 15, 2022

UPDATE 1/15/22, 2:20 PM The situation at the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road posted about earlier remains ongoing. We ask that you continue to avoid the area. We will continue to provide updates via social media.
— Colleyville Police (@ColleyvillePD) January 15, 2022