Muhammad Siddiqui, brother of terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, prime suspect in Colleyville hostage situation

#Terrorism #Texas

Muhammad Siddiqui is the prime suspect in the Colleyville hostage situation in Texas
He is the brother of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui
Reportedly, he is demanding her release in exchange for the hostages

Written By:Shiladitya

Updated: January 15 2022 12:50:23 PM ET Colleyville, TX, USA

Muhammad Siddiqui, the brother of convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, is reportedly the hostage taker in the Colleyville hostage situation in Texas.

The hostage situation unfolded on Saturday during a service at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville. At least people, including a rabbi, were taken hostage, prompting the FBI and SWAT teams to reach the spot to try and negotiate the safe release of the hostages. Subsequently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) also reached the scene to assist with rescue efforts, and a large number of police personnel have been deployed by the Dallas Police Department to both Colleyville and nearby synagogues as a precaution.

Also read | Colleyville synagogue hostage situation: White House, Israel Prime Minister monitoring the situation

Reports suggest that bombs have been planted at unknown locations inside the synagogue, and it is not clear how well armed the hostage taker is, which makes the situation an unpredictable and complicated one.

While the identity of the hostage taker was not revealed for the first few hours of the standoff in Colleyville, ABC News reporter Aaron Katersky has claimed that the man is none other than Aafia’s brother Muhammed.

Hostage taker is Muhammad Siddiqui and claims to be Aafia Siddiqui's brother. He is demanding her freedom from an 86-year prison sentencehttps://t.co/GpWtTQ7kOD.

— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) January 15, 2022

Aafia, a Pakistani citizen who was once described as “Lady al Qaeda: The World’s Most Wanted Woman” by Foreign Policy, had assaulted US federal agents and nationals in 2008 in Afghanistan. She was convicted in 2010 and it is understood that Muhammad is demanding her release in exchange for the safe release of the four hostages in Colleyville.

Also read | Colleyville hostage situation: US President Biden briefed, additional police deployed

She is serving a 86 year prison sentence at the Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth, which is mere miles away from Colleyville where the hostage situation is unfolding.

The involvement of a probable terrorist in the hostage situation has prompted the White House to monitor the situation closely, and US President Joe Biden has also been briefed about the latest developments.