- An armed man took multiple hostages at a Texas synagogue on Saturday, authorities said.
- Colleyville Police Department said they are conducting SWAT operations around Congregation Beth Israel.
- The man took hostages amid a live-streamed service. Media outlets reported that the man was ranting and mentioned religion.
One hostage was released Saturday evening, amid an hours-long standoff with an armed man at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, local authorities said.
The man barged into Congregation Beth Israel as it was live-
streaming
a service via Facebook, and he took multiple hostages, including the rabbi, multiple media outlets reported.
ABC News reported that the man, who has not yet been publicly identified by authorities, was ranting and at times mentioned religion.
The Colleyville Police Department tweeted that one of the hostages, a male, was released uninjured shortly after 5 p.m., adding that FBI crisis negotiators were still communicating with the subject.
The police department said the man will be reunited with his family shortly, and that “there are others inside but no injuries have been reported.”
ABC News reported that the man had claimed to have bombs at other locations. Fox News reported that the man had been heard repeatedly saying, “I will die” before the live-stream cut out.
“I’m going to die at the end of this, alright?” he said, according to Fox News.
An FBI spokeswoman told The New York Times that the agency’s SWAT team and crisis negotiators were at the scene.
The Colleyville Police Department evacuated residents earlier on Saturday and advised locals to avoid the area.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Saturday afternoon that the Texas Department of Public Safety was “on the scene of a tense hostage situation.”
The White House and Department of Homeland Security also said Saturday they were monitoring the situation.
President Joe Biden has been briefed about the hostage situation, according to the White House press secretary, Jenn Psaki.
“He will continue to receive updates from his senior team as the situation develops. Senior members of the national security team are also in touch with federal law enforcement leadership,” Psaki said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.