The four hostages held at a Texas synagogue have been released unhurt by the man who kidnapped them, according to the state's governor, Greg Abbott, who announced the end of a tense ten-hour standoff on Sunday.
CNN reported that a loud bang, followed by a short burst of rapid gunfire, could be heard coming from the direction of the Colleyville synagogue shortly before the hostages were released.
Authorities pronounced the suspect deceased without providing any details about the rescue or the man's death.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a tweet.
At least four individuals, including the rabbi, were held hostage when a man disrupted religious services at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. The suspect and law enforcement agencies then engaged in an hour-long standoff.
The hostage-taker was wanting the restoration of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of attempting to assassinate US Army personnel in Afghanistan and was suspected of having al-Qaida ties.
When the hostage crisis began on Saturday, the synagogue was live-streaming its Sabbath morning service on Facebook.
During the broadcast, which didn't show what was going on inside the synagogue, an agitated guy could be heard yelling and raving about religion and his sister, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
According to the Associated Press, police were called to the synagogue at 11 a.m., and residents were evacuated from the adjacent area shortly after.
Soon after, FBI negotiators made contact with the individual, who stated that he wanted to talk with a woman who was being imprisoned in federal jail.
"You have to do something," the attacker remarked shortly before 2 p.m. "I'd rather not see this guy die." According to the publication, the man could be heard constantly screaming that he didn't want to see anyone injured and that he believed he was going to die.
The feed was turned off a few moments later. Facebook eventually removed the video, according to a Meta business spokeswoman.
According to the Colleyville Police Department, one hostage was released unharmed soon after 5 p.m. Saturday. The individual was supposed to be reconnected with his family and was not in need of medical assistance.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation, while Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett expressed his concern for the hostages' safety on Twitter.